Modern space in old walls. Office interior by Temp Project

The interior of the office in the historic building, erected more than a century ago, is a kind of portal between eras. Designing a modern space within the old walls, the designer sought to emphasize the real charm of the building. The result was a bright eclectic office with local color accents and thoughtful functional zoning for 20 people.

The office is located on the third floor of a four-story building in the historical part of Kyiv. The building, erected in 1896 by architect Andreas Ferdinand Kraus, belongs to the Neo-Renaissance style and has the status of a historical monument.

Work on the project began with the research of the historical era of the end of the XNUMXth century and the search for details that survived from the original interior. Initially, the building belonged to a merchant and a wine merchant, and the apartments in it were rented out. The modern office was also created for rent, so it was interesting to explore what attracted commercial real estate clients then and now.

"We explored the space, looking for ancient artifacts that should be restored and preserved. The first find was an old wooden parquet, fragments of which we left in the work area. The second find was a stucco hidden by a plasterboard ceiling, made sometime during renovations in the 90s of the last century. One of the decorative stucco sockets on the ceiling was damaged. In order to restore it, we asked the neighbors to take a cast of the preserved outlet on the ceiling of their apartment," says architect Anastasia Tempynska.

Another tribute of time is the old fireplaces, decorated with ceramic tiles. They were also restored and updated. One was left in its original brown color, and the other was repainted in white to make the living room space as complete and clean as possible.

The space is divided into two working areas, a meeting room, a recreation area, a director's office and a reception desk. White walls, light shades of wood, glass partitions create the effect of a clean sheet, a comfortable background for intellectual work. The highlights were wall paintings created specifically for the project and emotional decor elements from modern Ukrainian designers.

"It was important for me to illustrate the cultural heritage of the city with delicate touches. Old Kyiv, manifested in decorative stucco, a noble parquet pattern or massive fireplaces, resonates with modern Kyiv, embodied in the works of modern Ukrainian authors: blown glass and artistic carpet by Guni, ceramics by Asha World and Parasolya Studio. This continuity of tradition has become especially important now, in a time of war, when the enemy wants not only to seize the land, but also to appropriate our culture, declaring it part of his own imperial heritage. Therefore, it is important to study one's own traditions, broadcast them and at least place them in current projects", - shares Anastasia Tempynska.

Photo: Ivan Avdeyenko