It is one of my secret pleasures, not so much of a secret now, nevertheless there is one thing other than a cup of tea that just makes everything ok, in the words of the immortal Rolf Harris, “Can you guess what it is yet?”

That’s right; it’s chocolate, luscious, divine and scurmdillyumptious. This week we have almost had a dream come true, we have been looking into the world of chocolate shop design for a potential new client. During our research we came across a project that had us salivating all over the office, sending our taste buds into overdrive was the Godiva Chocolate store in Harajuku, Japan designed by Studio EM favourites, Wonderwall.

The design element that we love the most about the store is the almost “Shining” esq dripping roof and walls, yet unlike Kubrick’s classic, the drips are of voluptuous chocolate sploshes rather than murderous blood. The design feature is continued throughout the entire store and cleverly extends to the exterior of the shop to create that interactive and attractive element for the passers-by. The cleverest thing Wonderwall have done to highlight the chocolate sploshes is to create a fully transparent store front, this allows potential customers and shoppers to see the design feature on both levels when driving or walking by, day or night, creating the intrigue so as they cannot but go in and have a look. Once in, Godiva will then hook them on the sumptuous chocolate on offer.

This dripping element of the store design was a brave choice by the designers; our only criticism is that the designers having decided to go down this route could almost have gone a little crazier or a little further and splattered it over the floor or on the counters, but it is only a small criticism.

This is the project description from Wonderwall:

Godiva’s idea was “treat thyself”. Wonderwall’s intention was to add a breath of fresh air to the more traditional image Godiva instil. The shop features humorous design details such as the “melting chocolate” ceiling combined with the primarily classical interior design. The boutique’s popular and fashionable location of Harajuku has also been considered in the overall design. Passers-by can view both its entrance as well as the customers enjoying their time with chocolate on the second floor cafe.

If you are a lover of great design and awesome websites then please click on the quote as Wonderwall’s website is something to behold, truly genius.

Check out the store images below, credited to Kozo Takayama.