EN Skincare: A Harmonious Blend of French Elegance and Japanese Aesthetics

Yusuke Kinoshita's Award-Winning Design Transforms an 18th Century Parisian Building into a Modern Skincare Salon

Yusuke Kinoshita's design for the EN Skincare salon in Paris is a testament to the power of blending cultures and histories. The design, which won the Platinum A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2020, transforms an 18th-century building into a modern skincare salon that subtly marries French elegance with Japanese aesthetics.

The design's unique properties lie in its use of circular partitions across four rooms and two levels, gently defining the various functions of the space. This design approach leans into the Japanese hospitality principle of discovery; patrons must wind through the store to find each treatment area, rather than walking into an obvious open-plan. The unusual geometric forms serve to spark curiosity in the customer, encouraging them to delve deeper into the store.

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. The ground floor features 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.

The external surfaces of the circle partitions are finished in polished brass, creating a distorted and warm reflection. This beautiful expanded space creates the feeling for the visitor of stepping into an elegant and extraordinary world. The existing 150 square meter spaces were divided into four main rooms, each composed of a different scale of circles to create a functional plan.

The design process was not without its challenges. Merging two histories and cultures, French and Japanese, required a clear and strong narrative. Once this narrative was established, it served as a powerful attraction for people. The project started in December 2017 and opened to the public in July 2019.

The design was awarded the Platinum A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2020. This award recognizes world-class, exceptional, and highly innovative designs that showcase unmatched professionalism, genius, and contribute to societal wellbeing. Awarded to the defining aesthetics of an era, they advance the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology, exhibiting transcendent excellence and making the world a better place.