The "Law of Prediction" formulated by writer and futurist Arthur Clarke states: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
Elegant lightness is the signature style of interiors by Rina Lovko Studio. In the project that will be discussed, the sense of beauty of Rina Lovko and the customer, Ukrainian fashion designer Kateryna Silchenko, coincided one hundred percent. Adapting Clarke's words to the creative work of transforming the space for The COAT, his visual "lightness" was made possible by the many details and focal points of attention. But let's start from the beginning.
Rina Lovko, chief architect and founder of Rina Lovko Design Studio
The key principle of The COAT, which is embodied in creative search, business model and self-positioning, can be described as "less is more": the brand adheres to the philosophy of conscious consumption, prefers quality and originality of ideas instead of quantity: currently, collection items are sewn only according to customer pre-orders .
In the DNA of The COAT - thoughtful work with colors (constant sources of inspiration - color blocking and interpretation of color patterns of the 60s of the XNUMXth century), environmental friendliness, attention to details
The brand calls its own limited collection Pre-Spring' 2023 an "endorphin booster", and taking into account the events unfolding in Ukraine and the world, customers desperately need this booster. The history of The COAT begins in 2014 - the creators of the brand know firsthand about difficult times. It seems that the initiative to create a new interior for the flagship showroom in Kyiv is the same request for positive changes and the courage to implement them, but already initiated by the brand itself and for itself.
The plan of the updated The Coat showroom on L. Pervomayskyi street in Kyiv
The COAT by Katya Silchenko showroom is located on Leonida Pervomayskyi street in the center of the capital. The space has been operating for several years, the initial design for the exhibition part was developed by the Kyiv studio YoDezeen. The showroom has its own history and many attached memories, but the existing floor plan did not allow using all its possible potential to the fullest extent. The commercial premises, located on the first floor of the brick building, used to belong to the housing fund. The usual attributes of high-rise buildings — a low ceiling and standard windows — left, as it seemed, few opportunities to make the room light and breathe into it an atmosphere of lightness and airiness.
An important request to the Rina Lovko Studio team was to reflect the values that the brand professes, to create scenarios in which the aesthetics of minimalism would be preserved. Photo: Yevhen Avramenko
Therefore, the main tasks from Kata Silchenko, which the Rina Lovko Studio team received, were to fill the space with fresh energy, develop new stylistic scenarios, as well as eliminate certain structural defects caused by the building's architecture.
The visual "lightness" of the interior was made possible thanks to many details and control points of attention. Photo: Yevhen Avramenko
Space with an area of 130 square meters. m was initially divided into 2 functional zones: the actual large exhibition room-showroom, which housed the collections, and the "backstage" of The COAT, a studio-atelier hidden from the eyes of guests. The existing division made it possible not to close the showroom during the renovation, although this required creativity in approaches from the project authors and builders. The showroom continued to operate almost the entire time the work was being done. The COAT was closed for several weeks only during the final phase to synchronize the changes to the interior spaces.
According to the idea of Kateryna Silchenko, in the new version of the interior, both rooms - the showroom and the "technical workshop" - were to be combined into a single large functional space filled with light and air
An important wish for the Rina Lovko Studio team was to reflect the values that the brand professes, to offer solutions that preserve the aesthetics of minimalism, the harmony of lines and simple forms.
Even the most laconic interior has its "heroes". At The COAT, it's furniture for seating and lounging. Photo: Yevhen Avramenko
The original “problematic” characteristics of the space that needed to be rethought — insufficient natural light due to the location on the first floor of a 1950s building, small windows and a low ceiling (previously the showroom had an Armstrong modular suspended ceiling) — found a solution in the new projects
Rina Lovko calls the implemented project a "minimalist interior with many complex details", which really reveal themselves as such if you look at them more closely
By increasing the windows and doors, it was possible to achieve the effect of raising the ceiling. After the changes, the space began to "breathe", filled with light, began to be perceived as much higher and more airy. In order not to take away critical centimeters from the height of the rooms, it was decided to place the air conditioning and ventilation systems in the area above the main wardrobe.
To tint the ceiling, walls, main cabinet and floor, a neutral gray color with a sandy undertone, selected by hand, was used. Photo: Yevhen Avramenko
The designers of Rina Lovko Studio proposed laconic, but effective solutions for decorating the surfaces: lime plastering of the walls and a cabinet with sliding doors located in the cash register area, and a poured microcement floor.
The copper color became the starting point in the construction of the palette of shades and the choice of materials for the future interior of the showroom
It is copper that is the main element of corporate style, a visual constant fixed in the brand book The COAT by Katya Silchenko. However, this does not mean that the created palette should consist of intense, characteristic colors comparable to the saturated color of this metal. On the contrary, it should complement it. Although, looking ahead, let's say: copper in its original version is also present in the interior of The COAT, but as point decorative and functional elements that connect the particles of the "world" of The COAT into one whole. And its new manifestations are much more delicate than before.
Copper is the main element of corporate style, a visual constant fixed in The COAT brand book. Photo: Yevhen Avramenko
One of the meanings of the word "coat" in English is "layer, covering". After tinting the ceiling, walls and floor in a hand-picked neutral gray with a sand undertone, the room was transformed into a single, seamless space. The elegant finished background does not distract the eye and helps to keep the focus on the main objects - the collection of clothes and accessories, creates harmonious conditions for staying in the space for a long time and warm communication with visitors.
Marble decoration of the walls and floor puts an emphasis on the area with the main exposition, from the same marble shade of Rosa Aurora, cubes-cubes for shoes and the bases of hangers are made. Photo: Yevhen Avramenko
Another unifying and accent technique was the use of elements made of Rosa Aurora marble. Stone panels with a soft beige base and milky, pink, gray and desaturated terracotta veins are integrated into the walls and floor, and the same material is used for shoe cabinets and the bases of hangers.
Vertical profiles are used to illuminate fitting room mirrors, which provide soft, diffused and uniform light. Photo: Yevhen Avramenko
In the updated space of The COAT, several non-trivial lighting scenarios have been implemented. Track lighting systems are typical for exhibition halls and commercial spaces, however, taking into account the low ceiling, Rina Lovko Studio abandoned this type of lighting in favor of built-in wall washers with a high color rendering index - this is crucial for the correct presentation of shades and textures fabrics
Fitting room mirrors are illuminated by built-in vertical profiles of diffuse lighting, which provide soft and uniform light. A separate island of light in the central area of the showroom is created by the minimalist table lamp Glossy made of marble, light opal glass and brass from the famous Danish manufacturer of lamps and lights Nordlux (designed by Maria Berntsen).
As functional and decorative accents in the space, lamps with a copper base are also used (promised copper!). The red metal continues to perform a key unifying function, but compared to the past, its aesthetics and "sound" in the interior have become more sophisticated, for example, it is also used in the design of the brand logo, identified in the fittings of equipment and furniture.
The Glossy table lamp made of marble, opal glass and brass from the Danish manufacturer Nordlux creates a separate island of light in the central part of the hall. Photo: Yevhen Avramenko
The main object in any showroom is clothes, and the main actors are visitors. None of the interior elements should radically change this locus of attention, but should help the communication process and promote comfort. However, any, even the most laconic interior (and perhaps it is this one!) has its "heroes". At The COAT, it's furniture for sitting and lounging, because choosing the best outfit can sometimes take a lot of time.
The incredible Diwan bench from the Spanish furniture studio Sancal with coral-colored upholstery, created in collaboration with the design duo PerezOchando, the "thing in itself" is the Totem bar stool from the Muzeo collection (Sancal's collaboration with designer Sylvain Willenz). A hint of Brazilian sensuality, muted by the discreet shade of the fabric, is added by the presence of the iconic Tacchini Reversível chair, the design of which was born in 1955 from the imagination of the genius Martin Eisler.
Every seam and junction is calibrated to the millimeter. The pins for the rails, which seem to "come out" from the walls, were laid at the construction stage, with visible parts added later. Photo: Yevhen Avramenko
Individual drawings were developed by Rina Lovko's studio for the manufacture of all sales equipment - rails and clothes hangers made of stainless steel, stands, a table for the cashier area with a rose quartz base and a tabletop decorated with natural veneer. Complex calculations and several stages of work are often hidden behind solutions that are concise and elegant. For example, metal pins for racks, which seem to "come out" from the walls, were laid at the construction stage, and later visible parts were "put on" these structures.
One of the main ideas of space is manifested in rhythmicity and repetition. This is especially felt in the location of spotlights and the placement of clothes rails. Photo: Yevhen Avramenko
According to Rina Lovko, the main challenge of the project for The COAT was the approval of the reconstruction of the premises, short deadlines, as well as limitations - at the beginning of the story, we mentioned that the showroom continued to receive visitors for almost the entire time. She calls the realized project a "minimalist interior with many intricate details", which really reveal themselves as such if you look at them more closely.
"I believe that work of this level, if you pay attention to the details, is a very high level of realization. And I can't even remember anything even remotely similar," Rina shares her emotion
Every seam, fastening system, and joint is calibrated to the millimeter. The cash desk area of the showroom appears to be almost weightless, although in fact it hides a mighty force of cables and control equipment. The decision to place the air conditioning and ventilation system above the sliding plaster cabinet, which should serve the entire room, was not easy for a moment - everything had to be calculated.
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Where to look for magic? Ask Rina Lovko - it is quite possible to get an answer to this question.
Author of the project: RINA LOVKO Studio, Rina Lovko, Daryna Shpuryk
Title: implemented
Year: 2022
Photo: Evgeny Avramenko
See also
In the footsteps of the old city. New interior of the Ruslan Baginskiy showroom by Ryna Lovko
