Architects:Dolgopiatova Interior Design

Area:88m²

Year:2025

Photographs:Andriy Bezuglov

Manufacturers:Cielo,OLK Manufactory,Philip Watts Design,Riva 1920,Zemna

Category:Offices,Interior Design,Offices Interiors

Lead Team:Oksana Dolgopiatova

City:Kyiv

Country:Ukraine

Text description provided by the architects. Anna Bakay's office occupies the first floor of a historic building in the heart of Kyiv, reading more like a private gallery or an intimate workshop than a conventional notary practice. From the outset, the project was guided by a clear set of values – silence, tactility, soft light, a grounded connection to nature, and the complete absence of visual noise. Located on Tereshchenkivska Street, the space opens onto Shevchenko Park on one side and a quiet inner courtyard on the other. Designed for a team of five, the office unfolds as a calm, cohesive environment rather than a sequence of strictly functional rooms.

"I don't need an office in the usual sense – I need an enveloping atmosphere. A hybrid space, a place of creation, a place of power, a place to work from the heart," was the client's defining brief. This vision is realized through earthy tones, richly tactile surfaces, and a carefully curated selection of art objects. Here, art does not decorate the interior – it shapes the atmosphere, drawing visitors into a slower, more introspective state. The nearly symmetrical layout, structured around a central core of load-bearing walls, established the spatial logic of the interior. The hall became the focal point – a gallery-like heart of the office where art and design set the rhythm and create the first emotional impression.

A defining element of the hall is a series of wooden shingle panels symbolizing protection. Created by sculptor Andriy Voznytskyi, the panels reinterpret traditional Ukrainian roofing. The wood carries its own history – reclaimed from century-old wine barrels from Transcarpathian cellars, combined with fragments of Amstel beer barrels and ship beams. Saturated with wine, the material reveals a deep, natural palette of reds, blush tones, and muted whites. Nearby stands the sculpture Vertinsky by Alexander Sukholit. Two mirrors by Flos are positioned opposite each other, reflecting daylight during the day and becoming warm light sources in the evening. An ironic floor coat rack by Mogg, shaped like burnt matches, is often mistaken for an art object, while at its base sits a ceramic bull from Yuriy Myrko's Souls series.

"This interior is about connection with the earth, about silence and inner strength, without ostentatious solutions," says designer Oksana Dolgopyatova. The material palette follows this philosophy closely. Walls and ceilings feature a textured finish reminiscent of traditional mud plaster, achieved by adding hemp fibers to the mix, while stained oak used for doors, portals, and window frames introduces depth and a sense of time. Oxidized brass elements celebrate natural imperfection.

The reception area functions as a curated display of contemporary art and collectible design. Seating from the Tyn series by Tetiana Krasutska for Zemna Product appears here as prototypes of a new collection. Coffee tables by Naturaceramica combine tabletops made from the keel of an antique ship with ceramic bases by Andriy and Olesia Voznytskyi. Sculptural seating carved from reclaimed wood comes from the Italian brand Riva 1920, while a ceramic composition by Yuriy Sulikovsky introduces a quiet chromatic accent.

In the owner's office, a monumental textile panel by Oksana Levchenya becomes the emotional core of the space. Titled Altar and created specifically for the project as part of the Beregynya series, the 3000 × 3000 cm work combines weaving, ceramics, vine elements, and appliqué. Beside it stands a desk crafted from Sequoia Quartzite, its texture echoing tree bark. One of the project's most remarkable aspects was its fully remote realization. From the first conversation to the final photo shoot, the entire process unfolded online – without a single in-person meeting. "It was a risk, a challenge, and a bit of audacity," says Dolgopyatova. "But we understood each other and decided to take that risk." The result is a calm, deeply personal environment – a space designed not only for work, but for reflection, focus, and inner balance.

Project gallery