Whoever buys their baked goods here will be wide-eyed at first – not only because of the huge selection of breads, pastries, nibbles and cakes. The store design of the Mi Pan bakery is also astonishing. And it doesn't take much to make customers feel at home.
For more than 40 years, Mi Pan has been baking for Mexico's citizens, and the owners seem to want to combine the modernity of today with the tradition of yesterday, because Mi Pan's design honors the bakers and respects the traditions of the bakeries.
For the optimal design, in which the citizens of the city feel particularly comfortable, the responsible designers of Concentrico have looked around in the surrounding streets. They used elements such as signs, messages on walls and floor coverings as inspiration for the interior design. Despite modern equipment, it was important to maintain the self-service layout that usually characterizes bakeries. This was successful!
An eye-catcher: the metal sheets hanging from the ceiling. They are intended to link the all-important baking process and the in-store shopping experience. The characteristic use of metal trays in the design makes it clear that everything revolves around bread and its production process.
"Mi Pan's concept derives from its heart: its kitchen. There we experience the magic and talent of the bakers who shape each loaf individually", explains designer Alejandro Peña. "Throughout the bread baking process, trays are used to reflect the freshness of the product, so we integrated them into the store."
The space also features custom metal furniture inspired by the design of local restaurants from 1980, when the bakery opened. Pine panels in warm brown manage to add texture to the design and provide a warm balance to the coldness of the metal shells and furniture. On the floor, the outside influences show through. Such terrazzo flooring can be found in many local supermarkets in the same vicinity of Mi Pan Bakery.
The coffered ceiling is not only impressive to look at, but also helps to make the room smaller and more inviting. It reflects the ceiling lighting and creates a great diffused light in the room, accompanied by product spotlights.
The concept of the store is clear: through a side entrance through the coffee shop area, customers come to the center of the store and stand directly in front of the large selection of bread, at the end is the checkout counter.
With the help of handmade signs, the story of the bakery is told piece by piece throughout the store.
