Daily life goes on in Kyiv, and regardless the circumstances, the fashion sensibilities of many of the city’s savvy young dwellers remain totally on point. Fashion retailers STORAGE and Domaine17, run respectively by an entrepreneurial couple, have joined forces, boldly opening retail space befitting not only their own forward vision of fashion and lifestyle, but also of the aforementioned demographic. Occupying an elongated 117 sqm. (1,259 sq.ft.) space on the ground floor of an early 20th-century building with an ornate façade by Ukrainian architect Andriy Ferdinand Krauss (1859-1911). Divided into two sections, the premises feature an interior design by architect Anastasiia Tempinska of local architecture and design practice Temp Project. Upon entering the premises, shoppers find themselves in STORAGE, the men’s domain.
Previously occupied by a beauty salon, the lay-out with different levels has largely been preserved and tweaked to serve the occupant’s new purpose. As such, a poured concrete reception desk has been added, albeit one with intentional signs of decay, adding a raw edge to the setting. The brand’s concept revolves around the idea of safeguarding the most valuable and sought-after pieces of modern fashion and culture, which is why a safe serves as the store’s emblem. Massive vault doors in the catwalk area display footwear, emphasising the concept of exclusivity. A photo zone for fashion shoots, complete with a steel wall as a backdrop, is situated near the entrance. To enable photo shoots, the sleek metal clothing rack can be hoisted up to the ceiling by way of a control panel.
The back space houses the Domaine17 store, and here, given the female clientele it serves, the aesthetic shifts to softer elements with rounded and colourful accents. An equally austere backdrop of bare brick walls overlaid with corrugated steel offers a stark contrast to whimsical furnishings, such as a mirror with a wavy frame by Ukrainian brand Oito and pink mobile floor reels. Another focal point is a playful art installation of vintage TVs and cameras which capture the movements of shoppers and instantly project them onto screens with a multitude of artsy effects. At the far end, the mirror-clad fitting rooms can be found. Heavy doors resembling a safe lead to a storage area, while the asymmetrical pink Bug table by Oito adds a frivolous note. Both STORAGE and Domaine17 stock curated pieces from international streetwear and sportswear brands. © superfuture
STORAGE x Domaine17
Vulitsya Shota Rustaveli 30 (Cherepanova Hora)
01001 Kyiv
Daily 11am-8pm
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.
