The Chocólatras franchise opened its first kiosk in a newly constructed wing of Porto Alegre’s largest shopping mall, Shopping Iguatemi. This kiosk is part of an effort to further establish the brand’s presence in the city’s main commercial areas. The 79m2 area includes 29m2 allocated towards preparing and displaying the wide range of sweets, baked goods, gelato and coffee that the store offers, while the remaining 50m2 are set aside for an ample customer seating space.

The project successfully accommodated all the technical requirements and incorporated all the equipment necessary to operate the kiosk, facing a notable challenge in remaining within the height limits established by the shopping mall’s regulations. This challenge was overcome by working with a horizontal layout. The project is contemporary and incorporates several details that aim to captivate chocolate lovers, such as the kiosk’s exterior, engraved to resemble a chocolate bar when observed from afar.

The kiosk’s layout was elaborated aiming for efficient internal circulation, thus allowing for more dynamic service. Another priority in the design process was to emphasize and call attention to the kiosk’s products. The products that require refrigeration are displayed in a climate controlled display area, while other products are exposed at the very front of the café. The project is monochromatic in tones of chocolate and black, with some of the brand’s more vibrant colors incorporated into the visual communication. To speak to chocolate lovers in a more direct fashion, the kiosk was decorated with images of their range of products along with sentences that invite the client to indulge.

The project aims to provide more than just an area for clients to appreciate the products – it places the products in accessible displays that allow for an immersive experience, where the client can see and even handle certain products in an inviting way. The overall goal of the project was to create an inviting kiosk for gourmet clients that appreciate quality chocolate and coffee, while simultaneously incorporating all of the brand’s history and tradition. This is the case of a traditional brand that has reinvented itself to adapt to changes in client demands and habits.

Designed by Studio Cinque
Photography by Marcelo Donadussi