Season, a new patisserie in Taipei’s Da’an District, blends French pastry traditions with Milanese design and Asian cultural elements. The space was designed by Ecru Studio for Chef Hung, recognized as one of Taiwan’s first traditional French pastry chefs, who sought to create a venue reflecting 18th-century Parisian salons while incorporating contemporary Asian influences.
Design Inspiration and Layout
Jin Chen and Randy Tu of Ecru Studio transformed an original 1970s space into four distinct zones: a pastry showcase, a giftable sweets area, a salon-style seating lounge, and a nine-seat island bar. Each area maintains its own identity yet integrates cohesively. The designers emphasized spatial rhythm and material choices to balance decorative richness with restraint, as noted by Chen.
Cultural and Artistic Elements
Asian motifs permeate the design, including hand-painted murals referencing Shang Dynasty symbols and abstract textile patterns unique to certain Asian traditions. The gift zone’s twin benches feature fabric with symbol-based designs developed in collaboration with local artist Genggeng. These elements were informed by antique trim catalogues, vintage dessert packaging, and old textile shops, creating a material and color language rooted in local heritage.
The color palette shifts from refined blues to deeper theatrical tones, red, ochre, and gold, guiding visitors through the space. Floral fabrics and velvet textures merge European elegance with Taiwanese spirit, while decorative fringes add visual interest without overwhelming the minimalist pauses deliberately left in key areas.
Color and Material Choices
Ecru Studio selected varied shades of blue to anchor the fresh pastry and retail zones, creating a calm and elegant tone for the brand’s new visual identity. The color palette draws inspiration from 18th-century Parisian salons, blending Art Deco geometry with Art Nouveau organic forms.
Material selections reflect the spatial rhythm described by Jin Chen, balancing decorative richness with moments of restraint. Hand-painted murals featuring Shang Dynasty symbols and collaborative textile patterns from local artist Genggeng add cultural depth while maintaining the overall cohesive aesthetic.
Chef Hung’s Vision and Design Philosophy
During early meetings, Chef Hung emphasized that French pastry philosophy centered on restraint, knowing when to stop. This principle became a quiet mantra for the design team. Chen recalls how this guided decisions like leaving one wall partially bare, allowing the mural to feel like a fragmented memory rather than a dominant focal point. Such restraint created emotional depth while avoiding over-decoration.
