La Folie

Before commencing with our very first patisserie project, it was imperative that we gain a proper understanding of the workings of such an establishment, in addition to a thorough brand perception in order to do justice to the vision of Creative Director and Executive Chef Sanjana Patel.

The main challenge presented, however, was not the brief, but the site constraint -- a triangular pizza slice of space with a large amount of inventory to be fitted in, not to mention the logistics of getting it ready within a lean time-frame (the Palladium only permits renovation at night, and offers no more than a 40-day window to complete the same rent-free).

Key aspects of the La Folie brand were looked at as a starting point for the design, its logo suggesting as it does that one surrender to the pleasures of the palate. From this conceptual diving board, we moved into a gustatory fantasy world, featuring elements of a playful, whimsical nature such as a rollercoaster and a cogs-and-clock Ferris wheel holding chocolate bars, truffles and other sinful desserts for dessert aficionados to embark on a feasting journey of the senses.

Aside from the interiors, we also provided branding for various elements that customers come in contact with -- graphics for the menu, napkins, bill folders (which were hand-embroidered drawings), staff aprons featuring white-on-black machine embroidery, and box/tin packaging for chocolate and cookies. Every last detail was customised, from the furniture to the name tag for each dessert in brass/marble and powder-coated mild steel.

Given the time constraint, we had La Folie's entire installation fabricated at a factory off-site, leaving only assembly work to be concluded at the Palladium. The patisserie is open from all sides and an extension of the mall, with the external façade eliminated entirely.