KIEV – According to Katya Zuieva, Kiev is
experiencing an ever-expanding showroom
scene. AKZ Architectura’s cofounder and
chief architect sees retailers in the Ukrainian
city wrestling for visibility and, more impor-
tantly, for memorability. These two factors
headed the brief that clothing brand Blushhh!
- having outgrown the space it occupied for
several years – presented to AKZ. The only
other stipulation was the use of the company
colours, which distinguish its corporate iden-
tity, as a base for the scheme.
AKZ Architectura’s interpretation
of memorability makes use of surprising
materials. The team covered the walls with
white corrugated polycarbonate panels and
metallic foil, a material more associated with
roast turkey and survival blankets than with
chic retail environments. By deliberately
wrinkling Alufom – a soundproof, heat- and
vapour-insulating material whose mirroring
properties match those of aluminium foil- the architects added texture and created
subtle reflections while ‘expanding and play-
ing with the space’, says Zuieva. ‘I wanted to
model the interior – not just paint it. Artifi-
cial and natural light pour from one material
to another, showing that the room is alive.’
Such typically unrefined materials rise in
status when paired with the interior’s pre-
dominantly clean lines: sharp-edged stairs
with inset mirrors, angular clothing rails
and unembellished tube lighting. Con-
fronted with a somewhat limited budget,
Zuieva says that ‘simplicity became our
most valuable asset’. – TISPACES 85