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Chocolaterie San Ginés Mx
By : GERARDO GARCÍA studio + Veronica Peyrelongue
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Interior Design
Categories : Accommodation, Restaurant & Bar / Café & Food Concession : Platinum Winner
The franchise project of Chocolatería San Ginés in Mexico City focused on adapting the Spanish business to a Mexican context, facing the challenge of transforming the rich history and tradition of the brand into a contemporary concept.
The program’s distribution was based on the need for a significant space for the kitchen and handling of consumables; it was necessary to extend the dining area towards the corporate parking lot, aligning everything at the same level to compensate for height differences.
The main facade consists of a lattice structure made of concrete pieces, allowing light into the terrace with a wooden pergola. It isolates itself from the surroundings, controlling the view from the interior to the exterior and vice versa. A green wall on the facade integrates with the lattice. Inside, the existence of an ancient myrtle tree is respected, integrated into the covered terrace, accompanied by two laurels placed by the firm.
Regarding materials and color palette, some finishes and colors were predefined by the Spanish brand. However, the main challenge was adapting these to the local context. This was achieved by reinterpreting the main color of the store (pine green) into a fresher and contemporary color (subtle olive green) on wall panels. Additionally, a special patterned design for the floor was created reinterpreting the original aesthetic of small-scale ceramic tile floors in the original store.
The wooden bar is the central element, painted to resemble antique oak, giving the impression, along with moldings and a dove-breasted granite plate, of being an antique piece of furniture. The element is complemented with accessories such as a beer tap and a coffee maker, adding a nostalgic touch to the place.
The lighting in this area was designed to avoid a ceiling fixture that would reduce the height of the space. Instead, perpendicular cable lines to the walls were proposed, visibly supported and organized by custom-designed pieces in the office, creating the illusion of metro or communication lines. These cables lead to semi-circular concrete luminaires, aligning with the facade and descending onto the bar.
This intricate design complements or relates to the floor pattern, comparing the traditional with the new, presenting the ceiling lines as an approach to the contemporary and the diagonal trace reinterpreting the design of antique tiles.
Circular wall sconces were designed and manufactured by the firm using metal plates. The chocolatería logo was manufactured in the same way, serving as a wall luminaire.
At the back of the bar and under the menu, two openings into the kitchen are found. The first is a window where diners can see the chefs preparing food at table level, and the second is a sliding door with a vinyl of a black and white aerial view of Madrid, covering what could be seen from the preparation table down.
In the bathrooms, a wallpaper with a geometric design, combining blue and beige tones, once again reinterprets the nostalgic aesthetic style of the brand.
In summary, the space merges classical elements with contemporary design, successfully adapting the foreign concept to the Mexican market. The project reflects the ability to transform a brand with tradition into an appealing concept for the local market and sets a precedent for future stores in Mexico.
Collaboration
Architect : GERARDO GARCÍA studio
Architect : Veronica Peyrelongue
