Architect Eduard Eremchuk and designer Katy Pititskaya say they borrowed inspiration from the three-part essence of locally made doughnuts – their airy shapes, melting glaze and cream – to envision an “unusual, slightly crazy and unreal” cafe in Voronezh, Russia.
Named Cafe Krujok (also Kruzhok) after the specific type of doughnut that influenced the fit-out, the dreamland diner is defined by squishy-looking furniture and delectable lines, bejewelled with popcorn-shaped wall decorations by Russian artist Elena Minaev (reflecting “an important element of the dessert”) and ‘glazed’ with lashings of lavender – all inspired by the sticky-sweet treats.
Cafe Krujok by Eduard Eremchuk and Katy Pititskaya
“Once you are inside, a new reality absorbs you. The pastry is everywhere, it looks and even feels like the cafe is made of dough,” says Eduard and Katy. “The goal was to create an ambience so each guest could dream their own dream in the world of pastry.”
Reflecting two of the three key components of a doughnut, the interior space is divided into two main rooms. “The first one, you start your journey as if you are inside a doughnut – crumpled glossy furniture, beige and sand-coloured walls and furniture refer to different forms of dough,” says the designers.
We wanted to create an unusual, slightly crazy, and unreal place, but at the same time, understandable to the guests.
In the next space, remembered for its amphitheatre-like seating arrangement, Katy and Eduard reinterpreted decadent, gooey glaze. The room is finished with delicious shades of purple on the ceiling, soft velvety wall coverings and accessories, and part-lit by glowing purple light boxes.
Connecting back to the light and fluffy atmosphere of the entry zone, a crumpled table with chairs takes centre stage in the middle of the room while a chandelier overhead appears freshly suspended from strings of malleable dough.
When diners arrive in the restroom, the designers say they should feel as though they have just entered “the creamy-sweet filling of the pastry” as it ‘melts’ around them. The frothy, textured wall-finish runs from floor to ceiling, as if painstakingly applied with a pâtissier’s piping bag, achieved with construction foam that was painted beige and coated with clear epoxy resin.
Coupled with the edible delights served up at the eatery, the tongue-in-cheek design response at Cafe Krujok delivers a playful breath of fresh air in the city; a fantastical contrast to the grey concrete streetscape that exists outside the front door. “We wanted to create an unusual, slightly crazy, and unreal place, but at the same time, understandable to the guests,” says the designers. “As a result, Krujok has become a prominent and desired place to be – a key spot on the map.”
eduarderemchuk.com; @pititskaya
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