yellow trapezoid vault tops german banana ice cream shop to create optical illusion

Keep banana ice cream shop by martino hutz architecture

Martino Hutz Architecture’s vibrant Keep Banana ice cream shop sits nestled in Munich’s historic old town, located in the side wing of the gothic Sendlinger Tor in a central pedestrian area. The vegan ice cream store uses only bananas which are too old for sale but just perfect for ice cream, inspiring the architect’s daring use of bright yellow painted vaults and sidewalls – the key unifying design element of the project. The small, attractive, contemporary shop front is inviting and stark against its neutral stone context, drawing the attention of passersby. The large arch carved into the exterior wall is mirrored inside with the striking trapezoid vault ceiling that creates a forced perspective and optical illusion.

all images courtesy of Martino Hutz Architecture

roman palazzo spada inspires use of forced perspective

Martino Hutz opts for a large open arched entrance on the facade with a tree wing door that fully opens to melt interior with exterior. The designer tops the ice cream shop with a trapezoid vault which mirrors the arch of the door entrance, though juxtaposes its historic stone with its deep yellow surface. To devise this unique and playful ceiling-concept, Hutz looked to the design of the historic Palazzo Spada constructed by Francesco Borromini in Rome in 1635, for inspiration. The vault consists of three arches that cover the store in a bold, uninterrupted ‘brush stroke’. A longer cone-shaped vault initially reacts to the entrance. It extends from the wide arched door, resulting in an unexpected, forced perspective that creates an optical illusion. The other two arches beside it counter and frame the room.

the existing arched door was replaced with a larger more open entrance

daring yellow sidewalls and vaults enliven the space

The German ice cream shop’s monochrome colour palette enlivens the space and creates a bright and bold interior with an energetic and welcoming atmosphere. Reflective white walls complement and soften the radiant yellow vaults to exude a serene, welcoming ambience. The surfaces are completed with a broom finish-texture which emphasises the arches and creates interesting directionality. The absence of decorative elements and the limited use of colour, together ensure that the key unifying design elements and optical illusion are the most notable features in this project.

The minimalist oakwood furniture has a clean, longitudinal layout, which divides the customer area from the serving area. The mobile counter can be moved to the front of the store to sit at the arched entrance for direct street vending. Locating the counter at the boundary between the pedestrian pathway and shop interior invites and engages more visitors, while enhancing the forced-perspective effect from the outside.

the shop opens out onto a pedestrian area in Munich’s historic city centre

a minimal yet bold colour palette is used to emphasise the key unifying design elements

oakwood surfaces complement the energetic yellow textured walls

the unique ceiling-concept is the shop’s most notable feature

the forced perspective plays with visitor’s perception

the main vault reacts the entrance door to emphasise the forced perspective

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project info:

name: Keep Banana ice cream shop
designer: Martino Hutz Architecture (MHA)

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edited by: ravail khan | designboom