Grown Alchemist
Design statement —
The design for skincare brand Grown Alchemist includes the adaptive re-use of a Victorian cottage and storage facility. New spaces have been created by opening up the existing fabric to create connections through the site. A translucent “skin” has been installed over the existing structures, creating an “outdoor room.” A new stainless-steel structure sits under the skin, enforcing the notion of being connected to nature. A wild garden is underway to soften the space and support local biodiversity. There are no doors, there are just gaps where windows used to be. The design is pure, but playful at the same time.
The brand’s inspiration includes industrial laboratories, as well as Grown Alchemist’s alignment with science and innovation. The setting is a backdrop of brick with seamlessly inserted boxes of glass and stainless steel. Furnishings are few, reduced to a large counter with built-in cabinets and sinks, and matching tall cabinets. A feature stainless-steel “sleeve” at the rear of the store leads to adjacent treatment rooms, offering a moment of respite and a sense of calm.
Jury comment —
Grown Alchemist is a beautiful and minimalist response to the brief that shows great understanding of the brand. It’s an expertly considered and constructed indoor-outdoor space that visually links to the brand’s values through a clean, stunning insertion. The use of restraint throughout every aspect of the design conveys the project’s materiality and form in a way that represents health and wellbeing. As a complete design outcome, it is sophisticated yet non-traditional, and demonstrates an overriding concept of purity that rigorously aligns the brand and architecture. The jury applauds the designers’ clever adaptive re-use of an existing site.