Located at Place Saint-Sulpice in the center of Paris, the new Patrick Roger chocolate shop was designed by Pascal Grasso.
The architect created a harmonious and serene exhibition space that offers a unique sensory experience to its visitors. The creation of a new central space with a soothing atmosphere reinforces the identity and legibility of the shop.
In this new place, the architect Pascal Grasso has put materiality in the spotlight through the use of exclusively raw and natural materials: concrete and metal, which resonate with Patrick Roger’s chocolate creations.
The space is organized around a very simple main volume made of concrete, serving as a showcase for the central presentation table designed by Patrick Roger, to which niches of raw blue metal were added. The brutality of the chosen materials allows the affirmation of matter as such, with the concrete and metal ceiling and niches retaining the softness of the natural elements. Supported by a monumental sculpture by Patrick Roger, the diamond-shaped table consists of two glass trays between which will be exposed boxes of chocolate.
Another structuring element of the project is the minimal concrete staircase that leads the visitor to the exhibition and tasting area.
The lighting at the heart of the project reinforces the geometric abstraction of the layout, playing on its effects of materiality. The chocolate boxes are highlighted by a directional scenographic light, composed of spotlights embedded in a metal ceiling. A diffused lighting softens the surfaces of raw materials and provides a contrast with the green light line embedded in the main concrete wall. The window frames diffuse this characteristic soft, immaterial green light, which strengthens the brand’s image by creating an appeal to the outside world.
The atmosphere of this new boutique is characterized by the contrast between the brutality of the materials and the softness of the atmosphere they provide. The simplicity of the materials and their implementation highlights the chocolate.
