A quarry nearby

Photography: Maxime Delvaux, Mesura

In a world where globalisation often erases local identity, the design industry is increasingly turning to sustainability and cultural preservation as guiding principles. Aēsop’s newest store in Barcelona, located on Avinguda Diagonal, exemplifies this approach. By combining sustainable practices with a celebration of local history, the project demonstrates how thoughtful design can connect modern spaces to their cultural roots.

Designed by Spanish architecture studio Mesura, the store transforms a modest retail interior into a powerful tribute to Barcelona’s heritage. The project prominently features salvaged Montjuïc stone—native to Barcelona but no longer quarried—sourced from Gothic-era fountains, archways, and other structures.

The store is a single, asymmetrical space, measuring 2.7 meters in height. Mesura repurposed 78 fragments from a defunct quarry, collaborating with the Barbany family, local stonemasons renowned for preserving architectural remnants.

Key elements include:

Basins and Shelving: Rounded stones were crafted into basins, while shallower fragments became shelving for displaying the products.

Natural Textures: The Montjuïc stone’s original patina was left untouched to emphasise its raw, historical beauty.

Stainless Steel Additions: Functional details like sliding cupboards and mirrored shelving complement the stone, adding modern utility.

A minimal yet inviting backdrop of white stucco walls and sleek tiled floors enhances the stone’s presence while maintaining a contemporary feel.

The project’s conceptual foundation lies in sustainability and locality. Inspired by Barcelona’s public fountains and Gothic architecture, Mesura adopted a methodology called “Creative Anastylosis”, reconstructing new designs from historical fragments.

Montjuïc stone serves as the focal point, symbolizing Barcelona’s architectural identity with its reddish, beige, and grey tones. By reusing this scarce material, the project preserves the city’s cultural legacy while resisting the homogenization often seen in retail spaces.

The design team faced significant challenges in sourcing materials and crafting the store. Initially, they explored repurposing stone from iconic sites like the Sagrada Familia but eventually partnered with the Barbany family, who provided remnants from demolished 19th-century structures.

Practical strategies included:

• Cataloging and 3D-printing the stones to experiment with layouts.
• Numbering and palletizing the stones for easy assembly.
• Using a stone-upon-stone stacking technique without adhesives, allowing for disassembly and potential reuse.

The confined dimensions of the space required meticulous planning and trial-and-error to achieve the final design.

This design demonstrates how retail interiors can transcend functionality to serve as platforms for cultural storytelling.

By prioritising sustainability and local heritage, the project sets a precedent for environmentally conscious, site-specific design. It challenges conventional construction practices and offers a model for creating adaptable, meaningful spaces.

Could this approach inspire similar projects in other cities, each reflecting its unique history and materials?

Located on Avinguda Diagonal, one of Barcelona’s busiest thoroughfares, the store contrasts its modern surroundings with a deeply historical interior. This connection to the city’s past grounds the store firmly in its local context while inviting customers to engage with its history.

Aēsop Diagonal is more than just a retail space—it’s a celebration of sustainability, craftsmanship, and local heritage. By transforming salvaged materials into a minimalist yet meaningful design, the project proves that creativity can thrive within environmental and historical constraints. It continues to inspire conversations about how design can honour the past while innovating for the future.