La Foret: Austin Branch
A Forest Where Brand Philosophy Grows
1. Prologue: From the Name, a Story Begins
La Foret Austin: hall
‘La Foret’ means ‘the forest’ in French. But this café isn't just about serving a stylish brunch restaurant—it’s about storytelling through space.
At the Jubilee branch, La Foret introduced a fresh visual identity. At Royal Oak, it solidified its brand values. Now, it takes a step further in the Austin branch: embedding its vision and look & feel into the space.
La Foret Austin: Indoor
2. When a Brand Speaks Through Space
As a brand grows and expands, its original mission can blur. Eventually, it risks being seen as “just another big café.”
So La Foret asks itself:
“Do our customers truly feel what our name stands for?”
La Foret doesn’t simply mean greenery or trees. It symbolizes a forest where diverse beings coexist naturally.
The goal was to create a space where different people could begin their day, stay, and feel at home in their own way, a space that embraces diversity and coexistence.
3. Designing the Forest
“We don’t just serve brunch, we’re building the idea of a forest.”
· Artificial Tree | The Heart of the Space
At the centre of the Austin store stands an artificial tree—not just a decorative object, but a symbolic core. It invites people to rest, stay, and blend into its shade—alone or with others.
The tree embodies the idea of peaceful coexistence. A reminder that forests are not made of trees alone, but of all who live beneath them.
La Foret Austin: Artificial Tree
· Stucco Walls | Nature’s Raw Texture
Nature is not polished. It’s rugged and full of imperfections. Inspired by that, La Foret chose textured stucco walls that resemble a rocky cliff.
The way light hits the surface, the tactile feeling, even the echo of sound, all of it is part of the sensory experience that completes this indoor forest.
“Rough edges can relax us in ways that perfection cannot.”
· Table Layout | Organic Diversity
Whether reading alone, having brunch with friends, or holding a casual meeting, this space adapts.
The table layout shifts naturally depending on the people. There is no fixed order, just like in a forest. The flow of human movement completes the real design.
“Like a forest, it's the harmony of flow that matters most.”
La Foret Austin: Indoor
4. Crafting Philosophy on Site
“Construction is more than execution, it's the final touch of brand storytelling.”
Austin’s construction was not technically difficult, but it demanded consistency in detail and a deep understanding of the brand’s philosophy.
The artificial tree’s size and placement were adjusted repeatedly to align with natural foot traffic.
Five samples of stucco were tested to find the right texture and tone
Lighting was designed to shift with the sunlight, blending artificial and natural warmth
Every reflection angle, finish line, and texture was carefully tuned to retain the brand’s sensory identity.
La Foret Austin: mood
5. From the Founder
“The Austin branch was both a new beginning and a moment to reflect on who we truly are.”
This store feels like the real entrance to the forest we always dreamed of building.
6. What Customers Say
“There’s something about this place that makes you want to stay longer.”
“It feels like I had a little walk in the woods after brunch.”
“I could tell that every wall and every tree had a reason to be.”
These comments are the most honest proof that space can hold meaning—and that it’s being felt.
La Foret Austin: Indoor
7. UNIQID × La Foret
For UNIQID, the Austin branch wasn’t just another project.
It was a statement: that a brand’s values can be felt, seen, and understood through space.
Our role isn’t just to build walls, but to protect and express a brand’s philosophy until the very end.
