Having orchestrated some of the most Instagrammed interiors around the world, India Mahdavi brings her signature aesthetic to Ladurée Aoyama.
January 11th, 2019
An unsuspecting world of Paris-based architect and designer India Mahdavi can be found in the heart of Tokyo, located in the bustling area of Omotesando.
French macaron and pastry specialist Ladurée enlisted India Mahdavi to create the store interior for its latest salon de thé in Tokyo’s Aoyama district. Although suitably inline for Japan’s enduring affection for the culture of cuteness, the Garden Of Delights-like space presents a whimsical store experience that is sure to provoke any imagination.
Here, Ladurée’s own delicacies become literal forms among the store design where their colours and silhouettes are manifested into bespoke furniture and lighting. Find scalloped lounges, flowered light fixtures and rounded cushions alongside celadon green walls and brass detailing. The scalloped lounges in dark lavender and lime green tones feature a contrast in velvet and leather compositions, with the rounded edges offering an overall softness.
There’s a sophisticated Willy Wonka-likeness to the design, where table trunks resemble twisted cane matching the ceiling’s twist detailing and white cane seating. The checkered grey and white marble floor extends throughout the entire space, balanced by overhead glass lighting that has been hand-blown into meringue-shaped profiles.
Although Ladurée can be found in three other locations throughout Tokyo, this is the fourth outpost of the French patisserie and the first designed by Mahdavi in the capital but is by no means her first. Mahdavi has already executed store designs for Ladurée in Los Angeles and Geneva respectively.
Mahdavi brings her signature saccharine-style to Ladurée Aoyama, alongside the distinct aesthetics of the Palace of Versaille’s central gallery Hall of Mirrors, all with a Marie Antoinette twist. “I am here to bring joy, and Ladurée’s essence is closely connected to enjoyment. When the delicate meets taste. I wanted to bring some Frenchness to Tokyo and make this place a full experience inside and outside,” says Mahdavi.
The pastel-hued interior is certainly not to be underestimated, as the grandiose world also surprisingly extends to the detailing of the guest bathrooms. A pleasant extension and testament to Mahdavi’s detailed excellence in store design.
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
The Sub-Zero Wolf showrooms in Sydney and Melbourne provide a creative experience unlike any other. Now showcasing all-new product ranges, the showrooms present a unique perspective on the future of kitchens, homes and lifestyles.
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
Channelling the enchanting ambience of the Caffè Greco in Rome, Budapest’s historic Gerbeaud, and Grossi Florentino in Melbourne, Ross Didier’s new collection evokes the designer’s affinity for café experience, while delivering refined seating for contemporary hospitality interiors.
An entry by MuseLAB, in The Retail Space in the 2024 INDE.Awards, takes shoppers to another planet where diamonds and great interior design make a lasting impression.
Leading the charge for sustainable design, X+O and Nudie Jeans are both making a statement in Brisbane and doing it with creativity and innovation.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Paying homage to that wonderful tool of life, the book, SJK Architects’ design for the new headquarters of Penguin Random House is both a temple to the library and a captivating place to work.
What’s in a name? At Wardle, a new name marks the next progression in the architecturally designed road for this outstanding practice.