Within vibrant Mongkok, Hong Kong, Aesop Langham Place embodies lightheartedness. During the design process, the brand’s in-house architects settled on plywood as the primary material for its warmth, versatility and minimal embodied carbon emissions. Often seen as a banal element of construction, the planks of plywood were assembled here into a provocative, poetic composition. The team also worked with a Hong Kong-based carpenter and wall painter to incorporate locally sourced wood chips — which would otherwise be considered waste — into a textural wall and ceiling application that provides acoustic comfort to overwhelmed ears. In this amiable ambiance, weary visitors can regain a sense of levity, explore Aesop’s range of invigorating formulations, and be refreshed by products kept cool in a bespoke fridge display.