A recipe for success – Built Works creatively mix materials for chocolate store, Barnaby

An orderly, if excited, queue of chocolate lovers is the first clue that something special has come to Covent Garden in central London. Barnaby opened its doors in June 2024 and is pulling in the crowds with a range of beautifully displayed chocolate bars housed in an exquisite interior by architectural practice Built Works, designed in collaboration with Morrisstudio.

Barnaby's shop front. Image Credit, Ollie Tomlinson for Built Works

Founded by Barney Goff, who had perfected his craft with successful cinnamon bun venture Buns From Home, Barnaby specialises in handcrafted chocolate made on site. Visible from the window, trays of bars offer up flavours including the Tip Tap made with peanut butter and salted caramel and the Dollar bar inspired by millionaire shortcake. Built Works co- Director Harry Kay worked closely with Tom Morris of Morrisstudio to come up with an architectural recipe as equally enticing. After previous collaborations with Tom on residential schemes Built Works joined the project at the point where Tom had spent 18 months shaping the brand identity with the client.

Barnaby's shop front. Image Credit, Ollie Tomlinson for Built Works

Lessons learnt by the client on growing a brand on social media during COVID meant loving attention was paid to every part of the design to create a photogenic scenography for the truffle bars. The site had been occupied by sandwich retailer Subway with a set-back shop front. As a first move, Built Works brought the frontage forwards, creating a relationship with the street.

Facade joinery details: Tusk tenon joint. Images Credit, Ollie Tomlinson for Built Works

Morrisstudio’s striking brand identity took inspiration from Cadbury’s Bournville, the utopian late 19th century ‘garden village’ built to house its workers, itself influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement’s tenets of simplicity and craftsmanship. Built Works led on material specification in response to Tom’s creative direction, collaborating on the physical design. Quality and craft are evident and beautifully elevate the small interior. Designing handcrafted traditional timber joinery and using sustainably sourced European oak, Built Works specified 18mm solid oak panels that stand proud from the walls and gently curve inwards at the top to create a sense of containment. All the structural elements of joinery are 72mm cross sections, keeping the design language deliberately limited to give visual cohesion. The tusk and tenon joints of the shop front reference Arts and Crafts furniture.

Timber joinery details. Images Credit, Ollie Tomlinson for Built Works

Brand colours of yellow and warm earthy tones are used to great effect in the geometric tiled floor. Initial research from talking to tile makers saw costs coming back as prohibitively expensive and Built Works decided that for the small floor area it would be worth having a go at making the tiles themselves. In collaboration with ceramicist Common Objects, the architects produced extensive samples of stoneware fired at a high temperature in two small kilns at their Kendal workshop with results turning out well. Using Irish clay with a heavy grog containing a mix of large aggregate ensured the tiles are less susceptible to cracking, an important consideration for a high traffic area. The practice worked with Morrisstudio to develop the geometry and layout while mixing and matching of glazes produced the right yellow in reference the colours used in 1930s posters to promote Bournville. The care taken is visible throughout with the yellow of the tiles repeated in the yellow signage by graphic designer Julian Robert of Irving & Co. The result is a colourful and confident brand.

Left: Stoneware samples. Image Credit, Built Works. Right: Geometric flooring at Barnaby's. Image Credit, Ollie Tomlinson for Built Works

Built Works are gaining a reputation for using sustainable materials to create beautifully designed spaces with recent work including the award-winning Drying Shed Sauna. Barnaby is testament to the practice’s skill in placing considered detail and craft central to the project. Built Works and Morrisstudio came together to make a little piece of chocolate heaven in central London and one well worth the queue.

Vanessa Norwood is a curator and consultant for the built environment advocating for low-carbon architecture and materials.