Marmo were delighted to be commissioned once again by their long-standing shopfitting partner to deliver the decorative finishes for one of Aesop’s newest retail stores, located at Westfield Stratford City, London. This follows their previous collaboration on Aesop’s Islington store, reinforcing a strong, ongoing relationship with the globally respected skincare brand and their design team.
The design specification for the Westfield Stratford store called for application of coarse-finish Microcement, selected for both aesthetic quality and high-performance properties. The finish was applied across nearly every surface—walls, ceilings, flooring, a central structural column, and complex bespoke joinery, including custom sink units and precision-cut display fixtures.
Following a thorough sampling and approval process with the architect and main contractor, two contrasting yet complementary tones were selected: a warm custom terracotta red and a soft earth-toned beige. Both shades align with Aesop’s signature organic colour palette, ensuring harmony with the brand’s global retail identity.
True to Aesop’s design philosophy—“to work with what already exists... to weave ourselves into the fabric of place and add something of merit rather than impose a discordant presence”—the most visually striking element is the structural column. This architectural feature, wrapped in the custom terracotta Microcement, anchors the space both vertically and aesthetically, providing a strong visual connection between floor and ceiling.
Microcement was the ideal material for this project, offering not only a refined, natural aesthetic but also exceptional durability, full waterproofing, and resistance to oils and fragrances—crucial in a high-traffic retail environment. Its versatility and seamless application across multiple substrates ensured a clean and coherent finish across even the most intricate surfaces, including units with delicate integrated cut-outs.
This latest commission builds upon our previous work with Aesop, including the coarse Microcement wall finishes in Islington, matched to Farrow & Ball’s “Dimity No. 2008,” and the 2024 Salone del Mobile installation in Milan, for which we completed 16 large-format wall panels in Microcement. We are proud to contribute to the evolution of Aesop’s unique retail spaces through innovative use of decorative Microcement finishes.
As specialist Microcement contractors based in London and Surrey, we have built a strong reputation for delivering high-end decorative surface finishes across both residential and commercial sectors. This latest collaboration with Aesop adds to our growing portfolio of Microcement and polished plaster installations, delivered both nationwide and internationally. Our expertise extends far beyond retail environments—Microcement is a highly versatile, seamless, and waterproof finish that is ideally suited for a wide range of applications including bathrooms, wet rooms, showers, spa areas, and swimming pools, as well as bespoke elements such as furniture and joinery. Whether working on a luxury private residence in Surrey, a hospitality space in central London, or a flagship retail concept abroad, we bring the same level of craftsmanship, precision, and design sensitivity to every project.
About Marmo Surface Finishes
Marmo Surface Finishes are a renowned polished plaster company specialising in Venetian Polished Plaster interior applications and Decorative surface finishes, predominantly operating throughout London and Surrey as well as the U.K's major cities. Our experience spans all sectors such as hi-end residential and commercial projects including retail environments, restaurants, bars and office interior spaces. We work alongside some of London's and the U.K's major construction companies as well as award winning interior designers and architects creating stunning Venetian Polished Plaster interiors that we are extremely proud of. Our work speaks for itself.
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In 2023, Marmo were invited to supply and install the Venetian Plaster finishes for the Louis Vuitton store in Heathrow’s Terminal 3. This was an exciting opportunity for us, and one of our most bespoke projects to date.
For this project, the client was specifying Venetian Plaster as an alternative to wallpaper, due to the strict fire regulations in place at Heathrow Airport. We were therefore tasked with creating Venetian Plaster finishes to replicate several wallpaper samples provided by the client, utilising innovative tools and application techniques in order to meet the project’s unique design requirements.
One of the finishes specified for the store ceiling was an adaptation of Louis Vuitton’s signature monogram canvas. This was a complex effect to replicate, requiring a custom stencil, a bespoke colour match, and application of two contrasting Venetian Plaster finishes, our Marmorino Spatula and Pitted Venetian Plaster.
Alongside this stencilled design, we created a several other bespoke samples including a glossy wave finish, a raked finish, a brushed metallic finish, and a finish replicating the effect of embossed metal, each specified for various wall areas and accent panels throughout the store.
Our works were phased over three months, from June to September 2023. The accent panels were delivered to our workshop in Epsom to be coated, whilst the remainder of the works were completed on site during night shifts. The ceiling design was particularly labour-intensive, involving the application of 175 sheets of vinyl stencil and the manual removal of 72,000 vinyl petals! The team worked tirelessly to meet tight deadlines, and the final phase of the installation was completed whilst the store was open and trading. Despite facing significant challenges, this was a hugely rewarding project to be involved with, and the results were remarkable.
As we reflect on this extraordinary project, we are reminded of what a privilege it is to collaborate with iconic brands like Louis Vuitton, and we look forward to many more successful partnerships in the future.
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