Flour

Located on Clarendon Street in Boston’s Back Bay, Hacin designed the fourth location of celebrated restaurateur Joanne Chang’s successful chain of bakery-cafes. The dining area has a direct connection to the street, optimizing natural light and views provided by the space’s high ceilings and concentrating the seating areas along the windows that face a nearby park. The service area is defined by a patterned wood clad soffit that lowers the ceiling height, giving the space a more intimate scale and a distinct identity through the storefront windows. Ideas of craft, the ‘handmade,’ and sustainability guided decisions about furniture, lighting, and material selection, including vintage-inspired lighting fixtures that illuminate the space. The color palette is a collection of greys and whites, providing a neutral backdrop to the most important aspect of Flour—the food.

In addition to Flour 4, Hacin also created two other locations for the popular bakery + cafe chain, including Flour Cambridgeport and a commissary for employees at the Novartis campus, in Cambridge. Flour Cambridgeport is located adjacent to a biomedical office campus, and its space is inspired by a Scandinavian design sensibility, featuring natural materials and contemporary forms. The main counter area is clad with a white oak slatted wall with intermittent white and blue washed strips of reclaimed wood. A modern, free-standing fireplace anchors the lounge area, surrounded by an array of comfortable seating. Each element contributes to a rustic, modern feeling that contrasts the nearby laboratory-oriented campus. While each Flour location remains distinctive, a consistency of color, material, and a recognizable pastry counter unifies the chain.