Project name: Something Ethno Restaurant ( Shchos na ethno )
Interior design: ZIKZAK Architects
Project team: Valeria Mostipan, Ihor Yashyn
Project location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Project area: 245 sq m
Completion year: 2023
Text and photos: courtesy of ZIKZAK design studio
“Something Ethno” is a restaurant with elements of ethnic motifs from Ukrainian culture, designed by ZIKZAK Architects. It is a sophisticated and cozy establishment, infused with Ukrainian charm, modern and stylish. Here, you can have a romantic date, celebrate an important event with a large group, or simply enjoy an elegant meal alone.
The main focus of the interior is on two bright, branching trees symbolizing a connection to roots, conveying family values, and honoring cultural traditions. Well-thought-out details form a cohesive composition, unraveling the conceptual thread of the interior and enhancing the unforgettable atmosphere. Red delicate cords hanging from the trees symbolize the threads of traditional Ukrainian embroidery. The theme of the Ukrainian folk symbol, the embroidered shirt (vyshyvanka), serves as the leitmotif of the interior. Handmade panels on the walls, rag dolls (motanky), and clay dishes evoke the ancient Ukrainian culture and the values of ancestors.
The Something Ethno restaurant exudes a rich and pleasant warm atmosphere, thanks to thoughtful lighting and carefully chosen decorative materials. Parquet flooring with metal inlays, decorative plaster with a “mazanka” effect, and burnt wood enhance the ambiance of modern Ukrainian ethnicity.
Careful zoning provides various seating options and desired privacy for visitors. At the entrance, there is a bar that intrigues with its design and serves as a welcome zone. The bar area is highlighted by stylized embroidery: symbols are stitched with red thread through the openings of metal squares. Completing this ensemble is a large suspended structure reminiscent of the roof of a Ukrainian house. It is accented with a composition of red-painted hay. Hanging from the structure is the establishment’s name, written in an ethnic font.
Beyond the bar is a zone with tables for two. The focal point of this area is the decorative warm lamps wrapped in red fabric, a technique that adds depth, drama, and a theatrical effect. In the central hall, there is a spacious and comfortable sofa for large groups to sit comfortably. The layout also includes spaces for more secluded meetings. This area is more contrasting and confidential, with dark wall decorations, black furniture, and accent soft lighting. It creates an ideal secluded space for romantic encounters.
The restaurant “Something Ethno” gently envelops visitors in Ukrainian charm through its modern interpretation, appealing to historical roots.
