Fifty years after its foundation, the famous Aixoise PUYRICARD chocolate factory has decided to open its first tea room, the “Chocolathé”, on the historic site of the brand in Puyricard near Aix en Provence.

The project consists of a complete overhaul of the concept of the Puyricard brand, in place of the historic shop. The project’s prime contractor wanted to retain the essence of the chocolate maker by carrying out a project in correlation with the manufacturing quality and know-how of the master chocolate maker while enhancing the products and creations. The premises consist of a “take-away” sales area as well as a tasting room adjoining the workshop for a gourmet moment.

The shop is sober with a predominance of raw wood. Its ceiling is decorated with two luminous recessed spotlights, with recessed sources, as well as black and gold suspensions from the French lighting publisher “Petite Friture”, a publisher to whom we owe the very famous Vertigo model in particular.

 The tea room is in a clean design style with black rail-mounted spotlights for the lighting focus on the tasting tables. Their easy reorientation allows to adjust according to the evolution of the room. Recessed lights complete the general lighting. Finally, decorative suspensions by the English designer Tom Dixon and brass wall lights bring warmth and style to the “laboratory” area.

Architect: Red Banana

Lighting Designer : LM5P – Le Mouton à 5 Pattes

Photo crédit: Christophe Pozzo di Borgo

Installer: ABC électricité

Brands used : Petite Friture, Atelier Sedap, Prolicht, Tom Dixon