Architect Benjamín Cadena, founder of Studio Cadena, has designed a bold and playful space for an ice cream and donut shop in Bogotá, Colombia.
Using simple elements, colors, and abstract shapes that reference 1970s minimalist art, a series of brightly colored triangular columns and a large 8-meter circular wooden bench are arranged in the central space of the small, 120-square-meter shop. The design creates a memorable environment using as few objects as possible, providing a gathering space to enjoy a treat, meet with friends, or relax.
“Commercial spaces are usually quite conservative in the way they use design. There are certain product-based expectations of how things should be. This was an opportunity to simply shape an environment with particular visual and spatial qualities that could contribute to the overall experience, directly and in their own way, just like the food or the service. As our relationship with retail continues to evolve, I believe this approach will gain relevance to better understand the value of design and architecture” – Benjamín Cadena
- Related article: Ice Cream Shop Architecture and Design: Examples of Stores, Museums, and Ice Cream Factories
With a distinctive character defined by the arrangement of its elements, the proposal offers a new spatial identity for the Fernández Fernández brand. The shop features large glass windows where the Colombian brand's cursive lettering is etched, casting shifting shadows across the space throughout the day.
The intervention focuses on spatiality and interior light. White walls, exposed concrete floors, and an open ceiling form a backdrop where all elements are freely arranged, creating an immersive, color-filled environment that changes as visitors move through it. Toward the back of the shop, a marble bar serves as the main service counter and display case.
Design: Studio Cadena
Team: Benjamín Cadena, Matthew Brubaker
Brand: S&Co
Studio Cadena is a design and architecture practice based in Brooklyn and Bogotá, focusing on engaging contemporary life, the city, and its people to design new, captivating spaces, places, and experiences. Their work has been published and exhibited at the Center for Architecture, Espacio Odeon, Art OMI, and The Storefront for Art and Architecture, among others. In 2016, the studio was selected by the American Institute of Architects for its biennial New Practices NY award, and by Architect's Newspaper as one of the top 50 architects working today in the US. They received the AIANY Honor Award in 2020, two Gold Cubes from the Art Directors Club of New York, and the continental Prix Versailles from UNESCO & UIA in Paris.
This article was written by Agustina Iñiguez. The translation is powered by AI.
