Commercial  ·  Interiors

A chocolaterie in New York shows the power of local design collaboration

July 24, 2024

Arch&Type's design is inspired by the movement of flowing molten chocolate and celebrates the art of chocolate making.

Photo: Kim Smith

Modelled digitally by students of Buffalo University, the cascading golden ceiling running throughout the store is comprised of CNC-milled, hand-assembled pieces finished in paint.

Photo: Kim Smith

Bespoke white-oak millwork was a collaboration between one of Arch&Type's team members and the father of the studio's founder.

Photo: Kim Smith

Meanwhile, the custom mirrored displays, dishes and brass details were made by Buffalo Niagara Weldworks, who worked closely with the design team.

Photo: Kim Smith

Blue Table Chocolates store and workshop is embedded with the power of local collaboration and innovative design practices.

Photo: Kim Smith

Chocolatier Ben Johnson's new retail concept in Buffalo, New York celebrates both the art of chocolate and local architectural craft.

Photo: Kim Smith

Ben Johnson's outpost, located in Buffalo, New York, is a 238-sq-m space that has been transformed to house a new workshop offering chocolate-making classes to the community and a Blue Table Chocolates store.

Photo: Kim Smith

The interior is the result of a diverse team of local practitioners contributing their expertise for the realization of an engaging space.

Photo: Kim Smith

Location

Design

Client

Floor Area

799 Seneca St Suite D-1, Buffalo, NY 14210, USA

Arch&Type

Blue Table Chocolates

238 sq-m

Chocolatier Ben Johnson’s new retail concept in Buffalo, New York celebrates both the art of chocolate and local architectural craft.

KEY FEATURES

Ben Johnson’s outpost, located in Buffalo, New York, is a 238-sq-m space that’s has been transformed to house a new workshop offering chocolate-making classes to the community and a Blue Table Chocolates store. The interior is the result of a diverse team of local practitioners contributing their expertise for the realization of an engaging space. Arch&Type’s design is inspired by the movement of flowing molten chocolate and celebrates the art of chocolate making. Modelled digitally by students of Buffalo University, the cascading golden ceiling running throughout the store is comprised of CNC-milled, hand-assembled pieces finished in paint. Bespoke white-oak millwork was a collaboration between one of Arch&Type’s team members and the father of the studio’s founder. Meanwhile, the custom mirrored displays, dishes and brass details were made by Buffalo Niagara Weldworks, who worked closely with the design team.

FRAME’S TAKE

Blue Table Chocolates store and workshop is embedded with the power of local collaboration and innovative design practices. While the bold, modern design defies the region’s traditional architecture, the store manages to root itself in Buffalo by representing the work of a diverse team of local craftsmen, artisans and experts. The different construction methods combined create a unified interior that reflects the store’s identity while celebrating the city’s craftsmanship. This combination of techniques and expertise also shows that embracing locality through design is not one-dimensional, but can be manifested in various ways, something we’ve also seen illustrated with recent projects like the 3D-printed La Manso jewellery store in Barcelona.

WORDS  ANNA MARIA MICHAEL  •  PHOTOS  KIM SMITH

This article is originally available at www.frameweb.com