HOOD is a 141 m² urban café and social hub located near Kyiv's Palace of Sports. Designed by balbek bureau "by people for people," the space balances Kyiv's industrial heritage with the nostalgic warmth of a childhood home.
The interior combines raw metal, natural wood veneers, graphic lightboxes, vintage accents, and vibrant red details. The ground level features a bar inspired by the Motherland Monument, bleacher-style seating, vinyl records, and original graffiti murals. The mezzanine level hosts a communal table, a lounge with a movie projector, and interactive nostalgic elements like an "MS Paint" interface mirror.
To overcome spatial constraints caused by the low ceiling under the mezzanine, mirror panels were used to visually expand the ground floor. On the upper level, ceiling fixtures were completely eliminated; warm light is integrated directly into walls and custom furniture instead. With 70% of the furniture custom-built, the space seamlessly accommodates 45 seats while solving complex structural geometry.
