Balbek Bureau has designed the interiors of a restaurant in Kyiv that incorporates traditional Ukrainian forms, materials and colours in a contemporary way.

Called 100 Rokiv Tomu Vpered, which translates from Ukrainian as "100 years ago in the future", the restaurant has a menu featuring modern updates on traditional Ukrainian dishes.

Kyiv-based Balbek Bureau said that it wanted the interior to follow this theme of "creating a connection between historical past and innovative present of Ukraine".

The 260-square-metre restaurant is split between two levels. A dining room, banquet hall, and bar area are located on the ground floor, while a smaller dining room and a kitchen are located on the first floor where large windows provide plenty of natural light.

For example, the restaurant's walls, floor and furniture are finished in light-ochre tones accented with clusters of red – a colour scheme typically used to make traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirts.

On the restaurant's first floor the accents of red are provided by chairs with oversized seat cushions designed by Slava Balbek for his furniture brand Propro.

The design of the large dining table and benches is inspired by the old interior but its white finish and clean lines enable it to blend within the new modern setting.

The design incorporates natural materials such as oak floors and wall paneling as well as a calming neutral colour palette that mixes ochre, sienna and raw umber-coloured funriture. Tables are individually lit to create a warm and welcoming ambience.

Balbek Bureau also used plenty of natural textures including driftwood lighting, bullrushes and potted ferns to evoke the atmosphere of an enchanted forest.

Separated from the main areas of the restaurant by a folding wooden screen, the banquet hall on the ground floor is used for private parties and masterclasses run by restaurant chef Yevgeniy Klopotenko.

The banquet hall features strong colours such as burnt sienna alongside natural materials, clinker tiles and soft, comfortable furniture.

A collection of antique household objects are displayed across a wall made from wooden shingles that were salvaged during the demolition of an old local house.

"The design theme reflects the main objective of the restaurant operations – to promote Ukrainian traditional cuisine through a modern and creative approach to food intake," explained the design team.

"The 'Fairytale forest' became the interior design theme, featuring plants that are native to Ukraine – fern, bulrush, ears of wheat."

The Kyiv-based designers also recently completed Grammarly's office in the Ukrainian capital, which includes its own conference hall, nap pods, and a soundproof music room.