Bean to Bar Chocolatier

PT – O Studio Toggle foi contratado para projetar a chocolataria Bean2Bar, para a sua estréia na Arjan Square, uma área conhecida pelo conceito F&B.

O espaço com 33m² possui uma fachada estreita, o que representou um grande desafio para os arquitetos pois tinham como objetivo, criar um ambiente iluminado e arejado, e ao mesmo tempo, flexível e com uma área para armazenamento.

Os arquitetos conceberam uma solução simples através de uma elegante abóbada de berço, dividida em células ao longo do eixo longitudinal da loja. A escolha, eliminou a necessidade de um teto convencional e criou a ilusão de uma área mais extensa.

As dimensões das células foram baseadas na unidade modular das embalagens utilizadas pela loja, o que criou uma coesão entre o produto e o espaço.

 

 

EN – Studio Toggle was commissioned by the young Kuwaiti chocolatier, Bean2Bar to design their debut boutique in Arjan Square, a trendy F&B concept in Salmiya, Kuwait.

 

The 33m² space with a narrow frontage posed a significant challenge for the architects who desired to create a bright and airy atmosphere with plenty of storage space and flexibility.

 

The architects devised a simple solution that featured a slender, cellular waffle vault along the longitudinal axis of the store that morphed into a sleek secondary enclosure. This eliminated the need for a conventional ceiling and created an illusion of a greater expanse.  The dimensions of the cells of the vault were based on the modular packaging unit used by the chocolatier and this led to new synergies like re-imagining the vault with its cellular modularity as an analog screen with the cells doubling up as pixels. Messages or patterns could be displayed on it as required by using a combination of empty cells or by changing the colors of the packaging unit. This opens up possibilities for the store to change its ambiance in a very easy and intuitive way to suit various occasions.

 

The vault was parametrically generated and optimized for digital fabrication as a slot-in waffle system. This enhanced the ease of construction; cut down material wastage and resulted in a very precise self-supported steel structure. The symmetry of the vault is broken and emphasized at the same time by employing an algorithmically generated steel chandelier, which almost has a parasitic relationship with the vault. By juxtaposing these strongly opposing elements, the architects created a refined industrial look for the boutique while maximizing the efficiency and the lightlessness of the space. Vein-cut silver travertine was chosen as flooring and also to clad the built-in refrigerated counters. This added a warm undertone and balanced the overall ambiance.

 

Bean2Bar was a successful implementation of generative processes not just as a design tool but also to aid in the digital fabrication and optimization workflow, which was essential to the completion of this boutique.