To mark 100 years of its iconic hazelnut wafer, Loacker entrusts MoDusArchitects with the complete transformation of its flagship store in Heinfels, Austria. More than just a retail store, this space embodies the beating heart of the brand: the new Loacker Galaxy is a meeting point between company and consumer, welcoming a large number of people from all over the world particularly in the summer, where it reaches more than 3,500 visitors each day.
The intervention by MoDusArchitects includes the restyling of the café and store located on the ground floor, the pastry workshop located directly above the café, and the design of a new service pavilion with an adjoining outdoor seating area, which is yet to be fully completed. The result is a new Loacker signature universe—Loacker Galaxy—that celebrates the brand’s family history and heralds its vision for the future.
With an adrenaline rush of large, bold structures and a joyfully mixed tension of material choices, new life is injected into the Loacker flagship store in which the signature red of the Loacker brand finds renewed expression.
The interiors, defined by the interplay of two primary materials—wood and stainless steel—embody the Loacker story. This material dialogue expresses a core duality, where the warmth of wood evokes Loacker’s artisanal heritage, while the crispness of stainless steel reflects the precision of its cutting-edge production facilities.
On the ground floor, the distinct spaces of the café and shop are unified by a coffered wood ceiling — an abstraction of the wafer pattern—that introduces a warm contrast to the cool gray tones of the existing stone floors. At the entrance, the café welcomes visitors with a sculptural stainless steel counter centerpiece, setting the tone for the shop’s large, steel furniture pieces.
The shop is conceived as a veritable “galaxy of flavors,” where ten stainless steel totems serve as striking display structures for the dazzling array of Loacker products. Each totem—an oversized grid of shelves measuring 257 × 362 cm—amplifies the sense of choice and abundance within the space. Mounted on pivoting steel columns elevated 30 cm above the floor, these totems can rotate freely, multiplying the possibilities for spatial configuration and enhancing the impression of plenitude. Behind this dynamic “totem forest,” a pick & mix display provides a visually engaging backdrop. Its vertical compartments leverage the sheer variety of sweets and their vibrant colors into a graphically driven showcase.
Upstairs, the wafer production workshop invites visitors to try their hand at crafting their own wafers in a unique setting—one shaped in the signature “pill” form that echoes the outdoor service pavilion and the café counter below. A change in elevation, combined with the presence of an oversized disc-shaped light fixture, lends the space a theatrical atmosphere: family and friends can peer down from above to observe the wafer-making process. The black millwork—whether cabinetry or handrails—defines the perimeter and creates a striking contrast against the red tiled floor, which is further offset by gleaming stainless-steel tables.
A newly added glass vestibule connects the café outdoors to the future “Hazelnut Garden” and children’s playground. As part of the outdoor intervention, the service pavilion acts as a threshold, separating the parking area from the open-air café while offering a preview of the interior’s material palette and playful, sculptural forms. Through this transformation, the Loacker flagship store not only rejuvenates its image but also becomes a true landmark for the brand.
Sandy Attia and Matteo Scagnol, co-founders of MoDusArchitects, affirm:
“Loacker Galaxy represents our first foray into the world of retail. Through curated spatial choices, expressive use of materials, and surprising variations in scale, the project condenses Loacker’s vast offerings into a recognizable, exciting, and generous place – capturing the awe and wonder of a kid in a candy store.”
