Brio Bakery
Located in the historic Oliver Exchange building, Brio Bakery brings together Edmonton’s urban heritage and rural roots. Next worked closely with founder and owner of Brio Bakery to develop an interior space reflective of the ethos and old world, European traditions found in his approach towards the art of baking. As with our other projects, the efficient use of digital design allowed for a rapid design process of only three months followed by an impressively short construction period of four months.
Brio is truly a study in traffic flow from both the production side, to the client experience. The space was carefully planned to provide optimal queuing in front of the baked goods, a quick turnaround at the coffee pick up bar, and perch seating at the window for a pause before leaving the space. There is also quieter seating at the access point to the larger central space of the Oliver Exchange block. This thoroughfare acts as a touch down space for longer stays and a linkage to additional businesses. From the operations perspective, the open bakery kitchen uses the bread-wall as a merchandising pass through. Product is easily replenished without additional foot traffic into the kitchen.
The market-like atmosphere is a nod to Brio’s beginnings at the Downtown Farmers Market. Interior finishes reflect a mash-up of farmhouse warmth with urban coffee house, bringing tin, timber and chalk wall next to historic brick. On busy Saturdays, product flies from the back of house production area through several passthroughs to the display areas in the front. Meanwhile the bread wall acts as display centre, anchoring the space, and providing glimpses of how the bread is produced.
