Now more than ever, looking good offers a good distraction and perhaps even boosts the morale, especially in Kyiv, a city under constant siege. Part of G.BAR, an international franchise chain of beauty salons that was set up seven years ago in Ukraine by entrepreneurs Sabina Musina and Lera Borodina, its latest outpost in the capital city opened its doors during the Russian invasion of the country. Occupying a 110 sqm. (1,184 sq.ft.) unit in the Arsenal Factory, an 18th century industrial building that’s part of the large historic Kyiv Fortress complex in the heart of the city, the interior design boldly blends old and new. Mind you, each of G.BAR‘s branches in Kyiv has been given an additional name identifier, and this one, is baptised G.BAR Brave because of how it came about—as said, it was completed during wartime, and at one point, construction had to be temporarily suspended.
Given the building’s historic significance, the vaulted premises with their characteristic brickwork have been fully retained, but paired with new concrete flooring, modern furnishings and eye-popping colours. G.BAR Brave is divided into two sections: one furnished with shocking pink sofas, stools, side tables and even a chandelier, is an area where pedicure treatments are given, while the other, connected by way of an arched corridor in electric blue, is more spacious, accommodating a full-fledged nail parlour and hair salon which both offer a wide variety of services. A large metal counter lines the side wall, situated opposite a bench that wraps itself around a support pillar and nail styling and hair styling units. Both areas are predominantly backlit, adding a spacious feel to the premises.
G.Bar Brave
Vulitsya Knyaziv Ostrozskikh 8 (Pechersk)
01029 Kyiv
Telephone: +380 44 3377755
Publishers Note
Just to be clear – superfuture® is a design blog and not a political commentator. No surprise there. The scope of our content has always been global and borderless, however that can often mean covering projects in countries where we will not agree with the politics or actions of those countries. In a world that’s as screwed up as ever right now, the focus of our support is to those designers, architects and other creatives who aim to make the world a more liveable one – as opposed to people that try their hardest to destroy it. So if a project hits our desk and we like it based on its design credentials, we may choose to publish regardless of its location or creators nationality. superfuture® has always been inclusive and hopes for all current wars, aggression, violence, hate and extremism to end.
