Housed across the ground floor of a multi-family residential structure in Watertown, Massachusetts, Bud’s Goods & Provisions is defined by accessibility. The space is conceived by New York firm Brand Bureau (an AvroKO Company) with an emphasis on education to destigmatize the cannabis landscape and present the storefront—and the residences—as invitingly as possible. “New England original” was a guiding framework for the project, which reimagines the area’s colonial homes through materials such as reflective mirrors, lime paint, soapstone, stained wood, and rhythmic slats.
“With cannabis in particular, it’s a delicate balance of allowing the guest to feel safe with references of familiarity while also presenting opportunities of uniqueness,” says Hilary Miners, head of environment design for Brand Bureau. “It brings an unexpected—and elevated—aesthetic to the cannabis typology.”
Lined with white oak wood and charcoal soapstone, the pantry recalls a New England kitchen, complete with millwork and even a custom wood table stained the color of denim. The library is oriented around a flower bud table, echoing the materiality of the neighboring pantry while distinguishing itself with a cavernous ceiling outfitted with milled oak and an open slab that suspends geometric brass pendants. The check-out area, set against a backdrop of stained glass, nods to surrounding industrial buildings. “Bringing this domestic reference point to both the design language and the experience allows the guest to feel a sense of comfort in a territory that is incredibly foreign and pioneering,” Miners says. “This juxtaposition of the recognizable with the unknown—through the lens of modernized residential craft—is what makes Bud’s stand out.”
