Header: Sebastian Böttcher
The opening of NAMELAKA’s second location in the heart of Kyiv signals a bold shift in how hospitality spaces approach colour. Rather than treating pink as a fleeting, sugary backdrop, architectural firm NEMOV studio has used five distinct varieties of natural pink marble to build an environment of permanence, weight and grown-up nostalgia.
An architectural approach to colour
Tasked with solidifying the brand’s position as the leading patisserie in the city, lead designers Roman Movliaiko and Yelyzaveta Redkina rejected the usual design tropes. Instead of relying on superficial paint or dyed imitations, the studio treated pink as an actual structural material. This specific choice gives the three-hundred-square-metre interior an unexpected honesty and durability, making the space feel grounded rather than transient.
The design team chose to skip traditional mood boards entirely. They focused instead on what they term a DNA analysis of the brand. According to co-founder Yelyzaveta Redkina, the core identity of the confectionery brand rests on a sense of fairytale nostalgia tailored specifically for adults. This conceptual foundation prevents the space from falling into childish clichés, balancing sweetness with intellectual rigour.
A journey through sequenced scenes
The layout unfolds as a series of connected rooms, drawing inspiration from the clear, uncluttered classicism of Haussmann-era Parisian flats. Instead of heavy or complicated ornamentation, the structural frame relies on clean, rhythmic arcades that guide visitors from one area to the next. The journey starts right at the entrance, where a heavy brass handle engraved with a wheel icon marks a clear separation from the busy Kyiv streets outside. Guests step through a small decompression portal into a world structured entirely around shades of rose and stone.
The interior works as a study in monochromatic layers. In the First Salon, which takes its cues from nineteenth-century high pastry culture, cakes and desserts sit inside arched wall openings like main characters on a stage. Below, a poured pink terrazzo floor stretches across the room with mathematical precision, featuring an inset brass company logo. Moving deeper into the building, the Bar serves as a heavy anchor for the second room. This massive counter consists entirely of one of the five varieties of natural pink marble, its stepped form mimicking the historic, towering sugar structures made by traditional confectioners.
Intellectual details and local craft
Further inside, the Library pairs a carefully chosen collection of Ukrainian fairytales with a soft pink grand piano. This arrangement deepens the quiet, contemplative atmosphere of the room, offering guests something to look at beyond their plates. While the overall look borrows from French architectural history, the actual making of the interior relies heavily on modern Ukrainian craftsmanship and artistic collaboration. Fine fabrics from Maison Pierre Frey and Samuel & Son add texture to the seating, while decorative lighting from Nordlux and delicate Murano glass chandeliers from Italamp wash the stone surfaces in a soft glow.
The final room in the sequence, the Fireplace Room, features large-scale canvases painted by local artist Nataliia Brichuk. These expansive artworks alter the perception of space, making the walls feel as though they open out into an endless distance. The sensory experience reaches a peak in the washrooms, where premium Gessi fittings add a crisp metallic touch. In this private area, the designers departed from the strict pink palette, wrapping the curved ceilings in deep green and wine-coloured Gucci wallpapers to create a dark, enveloping, cocoon-like environment.
A new way forward for material identity
This interior demonstrates how commercial spaces can move past superficial styling by investing in genuine material weight and regional artistry. By replacing temporary design trends with solid stone, historic architectural patterns and original local paintings, the project establishes a lasting physical presence that honours its city. It proves that when a single colour is explored with structural seriousness and high-quality materials, it can tell a complex story that satisfies both the eye and the mind, changing how we experience everyday social spaces.
Project info
Project Name: NAMELAKA
Architectural Firm: NEMOV studio
Area: 300 m²
Design Year: 2025
Completion Year: 2026
Location: Velyka Vasylkivska St, 51, Kyiv, Ukraine
Lead Designers: Roman Movliaiko, Yelyzaveta Redkina
Photography: Sebastian Böttcher
