Retail Design, Commercial Design, Interior DesignFlorence LJune 21, 2023Interior Design, Retail Design, LeTAO

LeTAO Cheesecake's Melbourne Debut || A Blend of Exquisite Desserts and Innovative Interior Design

Retail Design, Commercial Design, Interior DesignFlorence LJune 21, 2023Interior Design, Retail Design, LeTAO

There's a new jewel on Swanston Street, Melbourne, that's guaranteed to entice your taste buds – the flagship store of the renowned Japanese dessert brand, LeTAO.

Founded in the scenic city of Otaru, Hokkaido, LeTAO has been creating exquisite desserts since 1998, winning hearts and palates every ten seconds around the world. The brand's master bakers craft over 25 million units of their signature cheesecake, the Double Fromage, each year.

The brand's expansion into Australia presents an exciting new chapter in its story, with the debut store in Melbourne introducing a fresh interpretation of Japanese design for the Western market.

*The minimalist design is an ideal blend of East and West.*

A Blend of Japanese and Western Aesthetics

LeTAO's founder, Kawagoe, started the brand with a vision to infuse Western desserts with the subtlety and balance of Japanese gastronomy, creating a unique fusion that's both recognizably Japanese and comfortingly familiar to Western palates. This philosophy of blending East and West extends to the design of the new Melbourne store.

*The Melbourne store captures the essence of Japanese design in the eyes of Australians.*

The design team at K.Holland Architectural Interiors sought to capture the essence of what Australians recognize as Japanese: minimalism, strict geometry, and raw materials. The result is a store interior that enhances the brand's ethos with a less-is-more aesthetic that accentuates the vibrancy of the LeTAO desserts, treating them like precious jewels within a luxurious, minimalist setting.

Design Principles in Practice

The design principles are visible in every aspect of the store. To accentuate the narrow and tiny footprint of the premises, the designers employed a strategic change in colour that elongates the space and creates clean, geometric lines. Meanwhile, a sparse selection of monotone materials complements the colourful products. Large format porcelain tiles imitate the earthy texture and durability of stone, providing a singular surface from floor to wall that's both cost-effective and luxuriously appealing.

*The display counter extends outside the window, an eye-catching detail to captivate passerby attention.*

The MELBOURNE Flagship Store: A New Standard

The flagship store in Melbourne signifies an evolution in LeTAO's brand image. Initially, the directors in Japan were concerned about the modern design concepts, as the brand's aesthetic traditionally evoked a countryside feel reminiscent of Hokkaido. However, the final design, with its stone-inspired textures and solid rock-like forms, maintained a connection to the earth, satisfying both the modern design requirements and the brand's traditional ethos. By the end of the project, the client was declaring the Melbourne store as a new standard for LeTAO stores expanding into European markets.

The Centrepiece: A Singular Bench

A singular bench running the length of the store stands as a testament to innovative design. It seamlessly combines the service counter, food display, coffee bench, prep/packaging bench, refrigeration, and storage into one functional piece, enhancing efficiency for staff and providing an uncluttered customer experience. Broken into three sections for ease of circulation, the jagged ends of the bench give a nod to ancient stone ruins, adding an element of intrigue.

*The jagged edges of the bench call to mind ancient stone ruins.*

The design of the new LeTAO store in Melbourne demonstrates how interior design can translate brands between diverse cultures, making them accessible and appealing worldwide. It's a remarkable achievement that a small space, few materials, and a minimalist approach can convey a strong brand message and create a sustainable and engaging interior.