EN Skincare Salon and Store

Yusuke Kinoshita's EN Skincare Salon and Store presents a breathtaking dialogue between ancient materiality and contemporary luxury through its masterful orchestration of rough-hewn limestone vaulting against luminous brass cylindrical forms that anchor the foreground with commanding presence. The compositional architecture establishes a profound spatial narrative wherein the barrel-vaulted ceiling of irregular ashlar stonework in tones of warm ochre, raw sienna, and cream creates an enveloping canopy that curves overhead with the organic irregularity of geological formation, each stone block bearing the patina of time through varied textures ranging from pitted surfaces to smoother weathered planes. The golden brass elements dominate the foreground through a central cylindrical counter of substantial diameter paired with smaller satellite stools, their polished surfaces catching ambient illumination and reflecting warm aureate light throughout the space. An expansive arched mirror at center-left multiplies the spatial perception infinitely, its brass-framed grid division echoing both traditional window architecture and contemporary geometric sensibilities while visually extending the vault into illusory depth. Suspended brass ring light fixtures float ethereally against the stone ceiling, their circular forms creating halos of soft illumination that reference both celestial bodies and the perfectibility ideals inherent to skincare ritual. The chromatic harmony operates within an analogous scheme of warm earth tones from sandy cream through golden amber to burnished brass, unified by the cool white floor and product display ledge that provides visual respite and emphasizes the precious metal elements. Linear product display runs horizontally along the right wall, featuring rhythmic repetition of amber glass vessels arranged with museum-like precision against pale wood shelving, suggesting apothecary tradition translated through minimalist contemporary sensibility. The spatial organization employs atmospheric perspective through the mirror's infinite regression while maintaining intimate human scale through the seating arrangement. Lighting emanates from multiple sources including the ring fixtures, concealed uplighting beneath shelving, and ambient reflection from polished surfaces, creating a luminous atmosphere suggestive of candlelit grotto or sacred sanctuary space.

Designed for new Japanese cosmetics brand En, the store occupies of an 18th-century building in the center of the French capital. The name "En" translates as "beauty" in Japanese, but can also mean "circle" and "connection". These three translations all inspired the design of the store. On the ground floor are two bright minimal spaces, furnished with curving brass partitions and furniture. Meanwhile the basement reveals the building's history, with exposed stone walls and a vaulted ceiling.