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Campanas’ bricks

Aesop partnered with Fernando and Humberto Campana for a new store in São Paulo: featuring the Cobogó brick, the interiors reinterpret the traditional Paulista architecture.

Campanas Brothers, Aesop, Vila Madalena, São Paulo, 2016

Brazilian designers Fernando and Humberto Campana designed São Paulo Aesop’s store. Situated in the neighbourhood of Vila Madalena, home to artists, artisans, designers and intellectuals, it marries traditional characteristics of Paulista architecture with gestures inherent to Aesop’s philosophy. The result is a space that exceeds its commercial function and offers a meeting place for the local community.

The front of the store features a gate crafted from aluminium and accented with Brazilian Cobogó brick – a material typically employed for ventilation and shade. By day, the gate transitions into a roof for a modest public square situated between facade and sidewalk. Here, timber benches and a pergola with climbing plants welcome clients and passers-by.

The interior is informed by a natural, earthy palette: walls, ceiling, flooring, countertops and product displays are also composed of Cobogó brick, emphasising the versatility of the traditional Paulista design. Used to form a natural background, Sisal fibre complements the graphic effect of the brick’s pattern.