Thor’s Hammer in the Wild: Aesop Canberra Centre

January 2026

Aesop is an Australian luxury cosmetics brand known for its considered approach to sustainability, design and materiality. Founded in Melbourne in 1987, the brand now spans more than 400 points of sale across 27 countries.

Despite this global reach, Aesop has resisted a standardised retail aesthetic. Instead, each store is designed as a one-off, developed in collaboration with local architects, interior designers, artists and, in the case of the Canberra Centre store, local timber recyclers Thor’s Hammer.

The new Aesop fit-out at the Canberra Centre

A Localised Design Philosophy

Every Aesop boutique is designed in direct response to its surroundings, materials and community, ensuring no two stores are the same. In-store design sits at the core of Aesop’s localised strategy, with each space conceived as a reflection of its context rather than an imposed brand template.

Rather than exporting a uniform look, Aesop aims to embed itself within the culture and history of each place, an intention the brand describes as wanting to “weave itself into the fabric of the place”. This philosophy is realised through collaboration with local creatives and the use of locally relevant materials. For the Canberra Centre store, Aesop identified Thor’s Hammer recycled timber as a sustainable, recognisable design motif with a low carbon footprint that was well suited to the project.

Recycled timber shingles in the workshop

Choosing Recycled Timber

Having undertaken extensive research into the Canberra market, Aesop approached Thor’s Hammer with a clear ambition: recycled timber would form the heart of the store fitout. Through close collaboration between Aesop’s designers, architects and the Thor’s Hammer team, Bluegum / Coastal Reds were selected for both the parquetry flooring and internal wall and ceiling cladding.

Pattern, Precision and Craft

A brick-pattern parquetry floor was installed throughout the store, with each tile laid with a precise 2mm gap to accentuate the individuality of every timber piece. The parquetry was expertly laid by Empire Flooring, specialists in both parquetry and recycled timber.

The timber floor then seamlessly transitions up the walls and curves across the ceiling, shifting into an overlapping shingle pattern. The result is an immersive interior that feels almost cave-like, where the material language of the floor becomes the architecture of the space.

Thor’s Hammer joinery team installing cladding shingles of recycled timber.

Why Bluegum / Coastal Reds?

The Bluegum / Coastal Reds used throughout the store were originally sourced from NSW coastal forests. These Australian red hardwoods are renowned for their deep colour, density and durability. Their exceptional hardness makes them highly resistant to wear, an essential quality for a high-traffic commercial environment such as a retail store.

From a visual perspective, the timber also created a subtle continuity with Aesop’s previous Canberra store, which featured Australian red hardwoods. The material choice therefore referenced both place and brand history while delivering the robustness required for daily use.

Pre-glued individual recycled timber shingles onto plywood panels

Building Smart Under Pressure

Working alongside Aesop’s internal design team and Emac Constructions, the project was delivered under a tight timeframe. To streamline installation, Thor’s Hammer pre-glued individual recycled timber shingles onto plywood panels in the workshop. This approach significantly reduced on-site installation time and ensured the 2mm spacing between tiles was consistent and accurate, something that would have been far more time-consuming to achieve on site.

When Things Don’t Go to Plan

Late in the installation process, a design issue emerged. The parquetry pattern was intended to alternate as it transitioned from floor to wall, but a miscommunication resulted in an incorrect alignment.

The Thor’s Hammer team responded immediately, working after hours on Friday night and early Saturday morning to rectify the issue and keep the project on track. With the support of Emac Constructions, the design was corrected, deadlines were met and the store was handed over with no faults reported.

At Thor’s Hammer, we understand that challenges can arise on complex projects, and we take full responsibility for resolving any issues associated with our work.

A Store Worth Visiting

Next time you’re at the Canberra Centre, the Aesop store is well worth a visit. The immersive fitout brings together local context, exceptional design and the enduring beauty of recycled timber, celebrating both Aesop’s design philosophy and the sustainable craft of Thor’s Hammer.

If you’re considering recycled timber flooring or cladding for a residential or commercial project, our Design & Sales team would love to help. Get in touch with Thor’s Hammer to discuss the best recycled timber solution for your next build, renovation or commercial fit-out.