The shop is located in the heart of Maia, a city close to Oporto (Portugal). The name KAXOA talks about a legend between three men that introduce to each other the three elements intended to be present on this space: Coffee (KA from café), Chocolate (XO) and Tee (A from chá).
From this point on, it was mandatory that the concept of this space would have to pass by the fantasy of the chocolate.
The idea born from the point of seating the clients on some kind of a chocolate cavern, with cracked chocolate on the ceiling and walls that seem to be dropping at any moment, and the base is white like if a milk river is crossing the place to receive the perfect chocolate texture. The wood floor intends to add some extra comfort to the ambience and a vintage touch to the space.
The mint is the greatest color to add some vibrant life to the chocolate and tee. The products are exposed on the shelves that represent boxes that seem to be projected from the wall.
The “cubes” on the show window, have an original design, inspired on the geometry existent on the nature of the elements. The sugar cubes were defragmented, and the result is the pointy “high tech” illusion enhanced with the white mat color and texture. The suspension factor was added and the result is the three “flying” boxes like if sugar was dropping from the ceiling. The same inspiration for the counter and the cold showcase, but this time they stay on the floor.
This little shop with 70 (seventy) squared meters, combines a whole bunch of different products, and spaces. It has the gourmet, the wines, the teas, cookies, the jams, wood and cotton artisanal pieces, chocolate, candies, design cakes, macarons, fresh pastry, and coffee. Is also available the hot served things like toasts, creps and waffles.
This project is on the shortlist of the international competition ISG Retail Week Interior Awards 2013, on two categories: Best Leisure, Food and Drink of the Year.