Coming from the kitchens of celebrated and internationally renowned restaurants, Bioi Design + Build’s created a space that spoke to the contemporary and gentle nature of their client’s vision.
A baker and a pastry chef, the pairing of these two passions and talents resulted in the vision for MARI Bakeshop and a task for a solution to facilitate the creation of their space with an ultimate budget efficiency in mind.
Starting with an empty commercial shell, MARI was born out of exploration into material texture and delicacy. The team’s aim was to ensure that the space embraced the detailed nature of the craft happening behind the scenes, while providing a contemporary cafe setting for visitors to the newly developed East Village community in Calgary. A detailed but reductive material palette was utilized to set the ambience for a light and cheerful interior that challenges the norm of Calgary’s more masculine eateries and cafés.
Natural timber slats and white tile delineate a rather simple space while patterned paint and customized floor tile create a strong statement for the front of house. A custom oversized pegboard further highlights the daily offerings of freshly baked loaves, pretzels, and baguettes.
Completed within a highly restrained budget, MARI speaks to what is possible under the constraint of both a challenging space and limited resources.
