replus bureau presents a new Kachorovska store in the historic heart of Lviv — a project where the architectural character of the place and the distinctive identity of the brand come together as one living system.
A challenge which we overcame with grace.
Here, two highly distinctive forces meet: an exceptionally strong historic architectural setting and the equally powerful identity of Kachorovska.
The store is located directly in the historic centre of Lviv — so historic, in fact, that we still do not know the exact age of the building. We tentatively trace it back to the 16th century. For replus bureau, this became more than just a starting point. The building itself became a dialogue partner throughout the design process.
Our role as mediators was to understand both sides — the architecture and the brand — and weave them into a single whole.
Research as Part of the Project
The pre-design research developed along two parallel paths.
On the one hand, the replus bureau team worked with materials from the State Archives, looking for everything that could help us reconstruct the history of the space and understand what the interiors might have looked like before us.
At the same time, we immersed ourselves in the history and identity of Kachorovska, looking for points of connection between the brand and the place.
And we found them :)
Physicality, clarity, transparency, art, raw beauty, playfulness, and sophistication became the vocabulary of the project. We translated these qualities into architecture, materials, forms, and details.
The existing architectural language of the space — arches, vaults, symmetry, and, at the same time, inversion — was not hidden or neutralised. Instead, we emphasised it and continued it through the details: rounded skirting boards, softened corners, and curved furniture.
Among the visual motifs that became important to us were the meander and the volute. We also knew that the rose is an important symbol for Kachorovska.
In our interpretation, the rose became a kind of architectural meander — a form that brings us back to rhythm, fluidity, and movement.
This led us once again to soft lines, lightness, and the absence of sharp corners. In the objects, but also metaphorically, in the space itself.
A Space You Flow Through
The layout follows the logic of an enfilade, where each room becomes a continuation of the previous one. Moving through the store feels less like passing from one room to another and more like flowing through a sequence of spaces.
The central room plays a particularly important role.
Historically, this part of the building once contained a courtyard, which was later transformed into an enclosed skylight. Its central position, natural light, and visual openness became key to the design of the space.
The floor pattern echoes the geometry of the skylight. The furniture responds to it as well, while the function of the room naturally follows its central role: this is the heart of the store, the point where all visitor flows converge.
Four Rooms, Four Characters
The first room is the most architecturally complex and serves as a space for display and changing exhibitions.
Its arched vault is emphasised by a monumental architectural volute that greets visitors immediately upon entering. Irregularly scattered display objects create a sense of spontaneity, contrasting with a massive shelving system along the wall.
A mirror forms its backdrop, while the shelves take on the shape of rose buds.
The second room is dedicated to footwear.
Here, we introduced an interpretation of a large skylight on the ceiling. Unlike the first room, the shelving is positioned along the walls rather than in the centre. Regular, symmetrical, and geometric, it creates a more structured rhythm within the space.
The third room houses handbags and checkout areas.
This was once the courtyard, and today it is filled with natural light through a generous skylight.
The checkout counters are integrated into arches, almost like those of a railway station — yet with the slightly surreal feeling that a real Ministry of Magic might be hidden behind them.
The display furniture inverts the geometry of the skylight above, while at the very centre of the space stands a table with a bouquet of roses.
The fourth room returns us to vaults and a fireplace.
The fireplace is a remnant of the previous owners. It is not strictly historical, but it is part of the story of the place, so we chose to preserve it.
This room contains clothing rails and long benches for waiting.
Beyond it are the fitting rooms — large, spacious, and high-ceilinged. Places where every visitor becomes the centre of attention.
The bathroom takes on an almost boudoir-like character, continuing the overall sense of softness and intimacy.
A Space That Can Transform
A passage from the first room leads to the basement level, where an additional retail space is located.
It can be used for trying on footwear, clothing, and other products, but also has the flexibility to host lectures, presentations, and educational events.
Technical rooms and storage facilities are located on the same level.
The total area of the project, including technical spaces, is 450 m².
The concept of the project was never fixed from the beginning. It evolved continuously throughout the process, shaped by an ongoing creative dialogue between the architecture, the history of the place, the brand, and the team.
It was a true “Birth of Venus” — a continuous creative brainstorm in which different forces met, influenced one another, and gradually gave birth to something new.
The result is a space where the historic does not compete with the contemporary, but becomes part of it. Where architectural heritage does not simply provide a backdrop for the brand, but enters into a dialogue with it.
A large volume. High expectations :)
Team:
Client: Kachorovska
Architecture & Interior Design: replus bureau
Creative Direction: replus bureau & Alina Kachorovska
Architects / Designers: Kris Badzyan; Olga Tytko; Marta Yavna; Yuliana Lyzun; Alina Maksymenko
Project Management: Iryna Kovalchuk
Photography: Maryan Beresh
Art: Vitalik Kravec
