Photo by “parKafe”. Dining area: 180 m². 2015
Interior Design Studio: NP Studio Design;
Designer: Natalia Poplavskaya;
Graphic Design: Kateryna Vakhovska;
Photographer: Yan Vakhovsky; KOTY Design and Photography Studio.
Location: 48 Degtyarevska St., Kyiv, Ukraine.
Functional purpose: fast-food restaurant. Dining area and service counter area: 180 m². Status: completed; opened on February 2, 2015.
Description: The cafeteria is located in the city’s business district, within one of the office complexes. Prior to the renovation, “Cafeteria No. 2” had been serving customers for many years; the establishment had a large number of regulars who came from all the nearby business centers, some even twice a day. A space previously occupied by a bank branch became available in the same building, and the managers of Cafeteria No. 2 decided to expand the area for their loyal customers, as this space conveniently adjoined the existing food preparation areas and utility rooms. The height of the dining hall allowed for good ventilation, which is one of the most important criteria for a food service establishment. The clients did not provide specific requests regarding style; the main task was to move away from the typical design solutions used in food service establishments. During the design process, we had to take into account that this is an establishment with a low average check, so it was undesirable to use expensive finishing materials when designing the dining area. The solutions had to be simple, affordable, and at the same time not lacking in originality. The design project was completed in one go; the idea came immediately. All the founders enthusiastically embraced the new loft-style concept; no one felt the need to change anything or see other options. We immediately began implementing the project. The biggest challenge was the extremely tight deadline, so we relied solely on existing materials, though many items still had to be custom-made. The interior features brick, metal, and poured industrial floors. We painted the frames of the large windows black. Color palette: shades of black, gray, white, red, and navy. Yet the space doesn’t feel heavy or cold, thanks to the abundance of natural wood and various groups of warm lighting and accent lighting. The main task for the graphic designers at the Koty design and photography studio was to design Dining Hall No. 2, complementing the loft-style interior with graphic elements and pleasant details. Specifically, we created the graphic design for the wall panels made of OSB board. We placed “bon appétit” messages in various languages on the flower boxes and decorated the black chalkboards with beautiful elements depicting a variety of edible foods and kitchen utensils. The graphic elements of the hall’s design, combined with warm lighting and green oases, create an atmosphere conducive to relaxation and a pleasant time spent at the establishment.
