Page 80 - Designing Ways 285

Italian marble, in a warm creamy brownish colour palette, covers the
horizontal surfaces of the interior - the floor and countertops. The
caramel veins in the natural pattern of the marble echo the theme
of caramel or cream in layered cakes. Interaction with natural stone
gives guests a feeling of fullness and luxury at the touch and sound
level.

The walls of Cukiernia are covered with a unique material based on
eggshells, created specifically for the project. After all, eggs are one
of the key ingredients in the pastries that are present in almost every
item on the Cukiernia menu. One of the Ukrainian poultry farms
donated more than a ton of shells to create the egg plaster.

The shell was thoroughly washed, dried, and crushed to the required
fraction to be mixed with a special glued base. Multiple experiments
led to finding the best degree of grinding, formula, and application
method. It was important to make the eggshells visually gessoed on
the wall surface, while also avoiding excessive relief and abrasiveness
that could catch guests' clothes and so their hands would not get
scratched if accidentally touching the walls.

Another challenge was the shade of the material. The eggshells from
the poultry farm were white, and the interior required a warmer
shade. The venue itself came to the rescue, with the confectioners of
Cukiernia, who continued to operate during the project preparation,
collecting brown shells from the eggs, which they used in their
confectionery. 1,300 kilograms of white shells, mixed with 200
kilograms of brown shells, created the desired tone of the plaster.

Space
The space of Cukiernia consists of three halls. The first one, which is
the entrance, has a multi-tiered display case for the confectionery.
Visitors can walk around it and look at the assortment of cakes,
cookies, and pastries before making their choice. There is also a
staircase to the second level, with wooden banisters with a dynamic
rounded shape.

The second hall has a bar island, structurally resembling the design of
the showcase from the first hall. Next to the bar counter are chairs by
the Ukrainian brand Woo.

The third and largest hall accommodates several seating options,
including small tables for one or two people and a long communal
table. A significant disadvantage of the space was that it did not have
much daylight. To visually fill the halls with air, designers used a light
colour palette and arched niche-windows that connect adjacent halls.
The simple pendant lamps by Spanish brand Aromas del Campo
support rounded outlines of the arches and furniture.

Time-tested bentwood chairs remained from the former interior of
the Cukiernia. They have been restored and partially painted white,
like cookies glazed with icing. They also kept the wooden bases of the
old tables, supplementing them with round marble tops. The massive
antique cabinet next to the communal table supports the traditional
theme. This unique piece of furniture from the Lviv Secession period
came to Cukiernia from the private collection of the venue's owner.

"We aimed not just to update the space of the iconic pastry shop,
but also to give it a fresh interpretation. We wanted to disassemble
the Cukiernia brand and reassemble it, reinforcing its quality
and nobility with new visual manifestations," shares Volodymyr

80 Issue 285 • dw