Bude Architects: The multi-brand professional cosmetics showroom is located in the basement of an early 20th-century building in the Kyiv historical center. The two-room space combines several functions as a retail space, an office for meetings with clients and processing online orders, a product testing area, and a place for providing beauty services.
– When we researched the brand to reflect its identity in the interior, we learned that the company establishes warm and long-term relationships with its customers. Therefore, it was important to express this friendliness through the space, by creating an atmosphere of trust and comfort. – says architect Denys Shataliuk.
Work on the project began with the space exploration and dismantling of excessive plasterboard structures left over from the previous interior. The initial plan had two separate rooms connected by a narrow doorway. However, it turned out that by removing the plasterboard partitions, the halls could be connected by three-through passages. This solution gave the interior air and created functional connections between the two rooms.
In the first hall, the designers placed a reception desk, shelves with cosmetics, and a table where team members work and meet with clients. This space is partially visible from the window, so it is a kind of showcase. Through this window, the showroom conveys an open and cozy atmosphere. The focal point of the room is a cosmetics rack placed along the wall. It has a minimalistic design and a wave-like curve and seems to be detached from the vertical plane with the help of mirror panels behind it. This solution creates a feeling of lightness and visual dynamics.
The second room is in the depths of the showroom and has a more private vibe. Its centerpiece is a functional double-sided island with a built-in sink. On one side, this area is used for product testing, and on the other side, it is a countertop for beauty professionals. In the testing area, the client can apply cosmetics and wash them off. At the same time, a cosmetologist and a trichologist provide professional services on the other side of the island.
The main material of the space is the original yellow brick from which the building was built. The tactile brick is contrasted by minimalist steel and glass commercial equipment and cool mirrored surfaces, which also make up a selfie zone for customers. Additional materials include light wood furniture, crushed textiles of the curtains, warm shade plaster, and a travertine island.
The brand identity includes a graphic heart symbol. The designers integrated it into the project by creating custom hooks for clothes and metal inlays into the desktop.
– We are often approached by brands that are in the transformation process. Like going from online to offline or expanding the range of their services. In this case, Pleka had a request to give customers more attention and an individual approach. The result of the cooperation is a hybrid space where they comfortably unite a store and an express beauty salon in a small area. – says architect Yuliia Shataliuk.
About
Bude Architects is an architecture and design studio founded in 2013 in Kharkiv, now based in Kyiv, Lviv, and Kharkiv, with projects spanning Ukraine and beyond. The studio creates unique, brand-defining solutions for commercial and public spaces, combining creativity, functionality, and strategic vision. By collaborating closely with clients, Bude Architects develops distinctive architectural DNA that strengthens brands and supports business growth. Their portfolio includes work with market leaders, ambitious startups, businesses transitioning from online to offline, and socially responsible initiatives, all united by a shared commitment to innovation, values, and transformation.
