The design of Aesop Yoho Mall draws inspiration from the forms and rhythms of Mahjong—a game developed in the 1800s that continues to be a profound cultural emblem for the vibrant milieu of Hong Kong. Studio Rascal, working closely with our in-house team, was especially fascinated by the conversational tempo of tile shuffling, and the way this can foster intergenerational relationships and strong community ties. Indeed, one of the possible etymologies for the word “mahjong” is “sparrow”—it is said that the clacking of tiles (also known as “washing”) resembles the chattering of birds. Looking to the material history of the tiles, which were originally made from layers of bone and bamboo but have been constructed from acrylic resin for many years, the designers conceived a space of stacked forms in resin, bronze and bamboo.
Signature store
Aesop YOHO Mall
Phone
Opening hours
- Monday11:00am - 9:00pm
- Tuesday11:00am - 9:00pm
- Wednesday11:00am - 9:00pm
- Thursday11:00am - 9:00pm
- Friday11:00am - 9:00pm
- Saturday11:00am - 9:00pm
- Sunday11:00am - 9:00pm
This store offers Click and Collect.
The compact store is a vision in Mahjong green: semi-translucent shelves are illuminated indirectly, creating a mesmerising interplay of glowing refraction and shadow. Wrapping the central column, a communal bronze basin is a figurative bird bath where visitors can engage in a convivial washing of hands and an exploration of our unconventional formulations. Slabs of resin are inset into the display bench and counter, embodying the satisfying solidity that one feels when holding a Mahjong tile. Local artisan Ho Sau Mei, who has been handcrafting tiles since 1962 and is one of the few craftspeople in Hong Kong who continues to do this manually, carved a bespoke inscription into the resin, offering a tactile connection to the cultural heritage that underpins the store’s design philosophy. The engraved characters—春夏秋冬—evoke the poetry of the four seasons and our sensitive approach to seasonal skin care. Underfoot, bamboo blocks harmonise with the warm environment, balancing translucency with opacity and harking back to one of the original materials of Mahjong tiles.