India Mahdavi keeps up her long-standing collaboration with Ladurée by penning the third outpost of the French macaron and pastry specialist.
After the recent openings in Geneva and Los Angeles, the Indian designer has brought a touch of French-ness to Tokyo, Japan.
Set on one of the metropolis’ hippest and most buzzed-about streets – Omotesando –, the tea salon lies at barely a stone’s throw away from the vibrant and youngster Takeshita Dori.
India’s architectural concept is consistent with all Ladurée fellow patisseries in Europe and the United States, and pays homage to Anciént Regime-inspired whimsy and grandeur – the designer’s signature touch, indeed –, as shown by the massive mirror echoing Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors.
Needless to say, local culture plays a major role too, and especially the kawaii chic vogue which has been generously exported from Japan over the last few months. So, goodbye to Geneva’s austere rigour and flashy, greyish palette.
The macaron house in Tokyo unravels around two dominant colours: celadon green, which is to be found in the tiles and cushions, and bonbon pink walls.
Both colours are a tribute to the place’s most sought-after delight – macarons, of course. The overall atmosphere stands in-between that of a naive patisserie and a sophisticated tea room, mainly thanks to the use of elegant velvet armchairs alternating with the more casual wooden seats.
This “garden of delights” (to quote India herself) is enriched with lovely details, like blown glass floret light pieces and meringue-shaped ceiling lamps.
Plenty of stylish and playful hues turn the salon into a cheerful, funny, Willy Wonka-like reign. See the twisting candy-stick tables that sprout from a graphic, grey and white marble floor.
