Alain Ducasse Chocolate Factory

“I envision myself in each space. Just like with restaurants, factories, and boutiques, you have to think about the space, the décor, invest in it, so that certain characteristics emerge, a common DNA, but also specificities, originalities that make each place unique. It’s the opposite of standardization: each boutique is different, with meaningful objects, a different story. So as never to do the same thing and fall into the trap of taking the easy way out.”

The factory on rue de la Roquette, with my trusted architect from the Southwest, Patrick Laforgue , we had envisioned the spirit of it: we had to recapture all the hallmarks of a factory with materials like steel, brick, wood, concrete, and industrial lamps. In particular, we wanted the patinated, rolled steel to be very prominent: for this patina to evolve the space, to give it character and a history.

Alain Ducasse, A Life of Tastes and Passions, JC Lattès, p. 184