Blue Table Chocolates, created by Arch&Type in association with chocolatier Ben Johnson, is modelled after a golden, smooth, flowing, and untempered chocolate. The owner’s family, associates from the University at Buffalo, and contractors worked together on the building.
The area, which includes a new workshop and retail space in Buffalo, is about 72 square meters. A ceiling made of manually constructed, painted, and CNC-milled components was digitally modelled by the design team. One of the firm’s designers and the architect’s father, an expert craftsman and scientist, worked together to create the custom millwork.
“This project exemplifies the power of local collaboration and innovative design practices. The result is a space that, while distinctly Buffalo, defies the traditional architectural elements of the region. A large, dedicated team employed a blend of digital and physical methods to turn a shared vision into reality, celebrating both chocolate and architectural craft.”
The Sculptural Element
The roof, initially designed to be a nearly seamless mirrored surface, was transformed into a sculptural element that aligned more closely with the project’s original inspiration (the aforementioned picture of melted chocolate, which happened to appear golden due to the way light refracted off the crystallized chocolate).
The cascading golden ceiling was made by student interns at the digital fabrication lab at the University at Buffalo using handicraft and robotic accuracy. The chocolate is shown as art in a gallery by the custom-made mirrored displays, and the walls are integrated with a frameless plaster door featuring a brass base.
Project Team
Client: Blue Table Chocolates (Ben Johnson)
Architecture & Design: Arch&Type (Seth Amman and Adam McCullough)
Millwork Fabrication: McCullough Design and Mark Amman
Parametric 3D Modeling: Mariella Hirschoff
Parametric Programming: Dan Vrana and Wade Georgi (University at Buffalo) Parametric Tile Fabrication (University at Buffalo Students): Mariella Hirschoff, Naiara Mares, Raul Nieto, Tavian Swick, Fazal Khan, Jonathan Reyes, John Archilla Parametric Tile Fabrication Location: University at Buffalo, School of Architecture SMART Lab
Metal Fabrication: Buffalo Niagara Weldworks
Building Owner: Larkin Development Group at Millrace Commons
General Contractor: Pike Construction Services
Bespoke Lighting: Tala
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