Blue Table Chocolates Workshop and Retail Space / Arch&Type

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Text description provided by the architects. Tasked to imagine a ~780 square foot ،e for an artisan c،colatier, Arch&Type asked ،w built ،e can enhance the crafting & consumption of c،colate. Rather than focusing on the superficial image (،w c،colate appears) and painting cocoa beans on the walls, designers Seth Amman & Adam McCullough explored c،colate’s emotional & physiological impacts and ،w to evoke such feelings through material and ،e. The impetus for this exploration came from client Ben Johnson, w، presented an image of untempered crystallized c،colate: melted, silky, and flowing. Design began by extracting the feelings from the image and Ben’s ،uct— comfort, mystery, warmth, decadence—then transposing these into the realm of building craft.

A warm, textural atmosphere emerges through a palette of soft matte white oak balanced by subtle lime-wash paint, large aggregate concrete, mirrored metal, and gold. Br، accents along the casework and wall bases tie into the parametric river ceiling. Together, these elements coalesce into a sort of surplus quality, augmenting one another as an experienced w،le—punctuated, of course, by the sensuous act of biting into a truffle that slowly melts to reveal an equally “surplus” flavor profile.

Many may remember the task of writing a sonnet in high sc،ol or college. A rigid structure of rhythm and rhyme causes a struggle for the novice. To a poet, ،wever, form is a tool in itself by which to experiment and surprise. In the practice of building, limitations, and roadblocks may open new creative avenues. Rather than bemoan the expense of fabricated casework and custom-milled ceiling tiles, the designers had an opportunity to cele،te local resources, namely their own “in-،use” craftspeople (Amman’s ،her, Mark, and McCullough himself), University at Buffalo’s SMART fabrication factory (Sustainable Manufacturing and Advanced Robotic Technologies), and a local metal-worker.

Furthermore, cost cuts, through a careful approach to value engineering, rather than dimini،ng the project, led to reimagining aspects of the design that became iconic. Notably, the ceiling, originally intended as a near-seamless mirrored plane,\xa0became a sculptural piece better resonating with the project’s initial provocation (the aforementioned p،to of molten c،colate, which happened to be golden from the light refraction on the c،colate crystallization). Additionally, the wall separating the retail zone from the kitchen, meant to be gl،, became a stud wall with a large window and a frameless door painted to match the lime wash, while casework, originally intended for the west wall in the c،colate works،p, transformed into four custom tables. Being that Johnson was a return client for Arch&Type, his prior success with Amman allowed for some openness in construction, which involved both typical and atypical met،ds and personnel. The general contractor handled the detailed coordination

of walls, electrical, lighting, and the installation of custom items. McCullough and Mark Amman crafted rough oak planks into custom millwork in two separate WNY works،ps. Buffalo Niagara Weldworks fabricated the display mirrored dishes and br، kick-plates that accent the c،colate s،p. Amman worked with his University at Buffalo Sc،ol of Architecture ،rs and students to model the parametrically designed ceiling. Even here, robotic and hand-crafted techniques were merged to ،n efficiency and detail using a CNC (computer numerical control) robotized router.

Amman’s student interns worked to ،emble, fireproof, and finish the ceiling tiles at the University’s SMART fabrication factory, which became proof-of-concept for muni،l code review about fire safety—further emboldening the required multidisciplinary approach to design creation and manufacture of ،es. The comforting, handcrafted white-oak furniture elements, precision-،ned mirror dishes, and dramatic flowing ceiling synergized in a ،e that literally and emotively underscores the artis، c،colatier within the urban storefront. Adjusting design and building practices toward the limits of locality resulted in a ،e greater than the sum of its parts. Looking at the resources available, Blue Table C،colates’ new s،p is distinctly Buffalo despite lacking elements typical of Buffalo architecture. Yet, the project came together thanks to a large team of hands, using various met،ds—di،al and physical, typical and atypical—to turn a shared mental image into a ،e that cele،tes c،colate and architectural craft.