As the ongoing Russian invasion forces designers and architects to shut their studios and seek safety, interior designer Katerina Kovalenko selects six interiors that represent contemporary Ukrainian design for this special lookbook.
These projects from the Dezeen archive show how Ukrainian designers mix different cultural eras in contemporary residential and commercial projects.
Before the Russian invasion, Ukrainian design was in a confident position, expressing the optimism of a culturally rich country.
Ukrainian style often combines references to artisanal traditions, such as in the Faina Gallery project, and the Soviet past, such as in the Kovalska office project, where mosaics from the Soviet era were taken as a reference.
This is a special edition of our lookbooks series, which provides curated visual inspiration from Dezeen's image archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks showcasing parquet wooden flooring, cavernous interiors and coastal hotel rooms with sea views.
Faina Gallery, Belgium, by Yakusha Design
Ukrainian studio Yakusha Design created the showroom for its own furniture line Faina in Antwerp, Belgium, with a muted colour scheme that was informed by moss and soil.
The shades, which were chosen to evoke the natural world, are meant to "convey this feeling of grounding serenity in the interior," explained Yakusha founder Victoria Yakusha.
The studio's furniture is showcased throughout the space and comes in matching green and grey hues.
Find out more about Faina Gallery ›
Say No Mo, Ukraine, by Balbek Bureau
Local design studio Balbek Bureau created this salon-cum-cocktail bar to avoid gender stereotypes by staying away from colours and textures normally used in beauty salons.
Instead, the studio focused on contrasting textures such as concrete walls and gold-coloured panelling. Sculptural beige and grey furniture decorates the space, which also features a doorway fitted with rows of exposed bulbs and a glass-topped ball pit.
Find out more about Say No Mo ›
Virgin Izakaya Bar, Ukraine, by YODEZEEN
Located in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, this Japanese izakaya – a bar that serves drinks and small plates of food – was designed by YODEZEEN to blend the existing architecture of the industrial building with more contemporary features.
The studio used weathered wood and copper to add warmth to the space but kept its brick walls and concrete surfaces bare. To create zones within the space, YODEZEEN added oxidised metal panels and metal mesh details.
Find out more about Virgin Izakaya Bar ›
Kovalska office, Ukraine, by Artem Trigubchak and Lera Brumina
Designed for a Ukrainian developer and building materials company called Kovalska, this office is set inside a Soviet-era factory in Kyiv's industrial district of Obolon.
Creative duo Artem Trigubchak and Lera Brumina divided the large space up by using concrete slabs, sand and paving stones, which was also used to create much of the furnishings.
"We are endlessly inspired and love the architecture of the Soviet period, and we really wanted to create a comfortable working space without violating the architectural context," they explained.
Find out more about Virgin Izakaya Bar ›
Kyiv apartment, Ukraine, by Olga Fradina
Dark colours and natural textures create a cosy atmosphere in this Kyiv apartment, located on the top floor of a five-storey Soviet apartment building and designed by Olga Fradina.
The designer switched the bedroom and kitchen in the flat to create a large, open-plan living space filled with furniture and accessories in different natural materials. Apart from the sofa and dining chairs, Fradina designed all the furniture herself.
Find out more about Kyiv apartment ›
Kyiv florist, Ukraine, by Rina Lovko Studio
The minimalist interior of this retail space for a wholesale flower supplier was designed on a tight budget but still features arresting details such as polished terrazzo fixtures and mirrored surfaces.
Rina Lovko Studio created textured walls and floors to give the store a deliberately unfinished look.
"The idea was to make everything look untouched," said the studio, "as if we had come, put down furniture and the store started working."
Find out more about Kyiv florist ›
Kovalenko is the founder of studio 725 design.
This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen's image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing parquet wooden flooring, cavernous interiors and coastal hotel rooms with sea views.