Maison Marou Hanoi
Location - Ha Noi, Vietnam
Site area - 300 sqm
Building area - 380 sqm
Categories - Hospitality
Website - www.marouchocolate.com
Services
Architecture
Interior Design
Product Design & Sourcing
Awards
WINNER: International Property Awards Best Retail Interior Design, Vietnam, 2018-2019
We wanted to create spaces that celebrated the making and enjoying of Marou chocolates, in a space that was quintessentially Hanoi, but true to the Maison Marou experience. All three customer areas, plus the showcase kitchens were considered as equal parts of a unified experience; each receiving the attention they deserve.
Crafting the Maison Marou Hanoi chocolate experience
Across the full width of the site, we created a double-height shopfront to showcase the Marou product. By demolishing an existing mezzanine level, we were able to expose the hidden charm of the original 1920’s French colonial villa, creating an intriguing backdrop to the retail boutique. A palette of neutral timbers, marbles and concrete flooring allows the distinctive packaging to shine. The signature layered plywood cabinetry, chocolate library and dynamic billboard take the success of Maison Marou to the next level.
Transforming the 1920s Colonial Villa charm into Maison Marou
Contrasting the vibrant, lively boutique, the living room space of the old villa evokes a warm, cosy welcoming feel, as you are drawn up a small flight of stairs into the main café lounge area. Here, we wanted to create a more intimate, domestic feel. Elegantly detailed furniture in oak sits on traditional patterned cement tiles that were commissioned for Marou.
The Cozy Café Lounge
In keeping with the domestic theme, a large, shared table was designed for what was once the family dining room, and a large bespoke chandelier, made from repurposed Marou chocolate moulds, takes pride of place above the table. The original timber windows opening onto a small external garden were restored and reused, as were the original doors.
Revitalizing the Family dining room
The climax in this trio of spaces lies at the rear of the site where the terraced amphitheatre is framed along two sides by chocolate making; where artisans concoct combinations of local fruits and spices to invent new bars and recipes that furnish the shelves of gourmet shops all over the world. Natural oak floors add warmth to the industrial space, as do the marble benches and tabletops, with live cacao shrubs adding the final touches.
Chocolate-Making Amphitheatre
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