Shopping Mall and Office Center Kineskop is located in the Frankivskyi district of Lviv, Ukraine, within a former industrial area undergoing gradual transformation. Like many industrial zones that once occupied the outskirts of expanding cities, the site is now surrounded by new residential development as industrial activities relocated to peripheral areas. This transition has altered the environmental and urban conditions of the district, opening opportunities for mixed-use infrastructure that supports residential growth.
Urban transformation and site context
Designed by AVR Development, the project shares a site with an existing residential complex and is physically connected to it. The surrounding area has experienced rapid housing development but lacks public amenities and organized parking. In response, the project integrates retail, office, and community functions with a two-level underground parking facility serving the entire site.
Positioned along a transit route linking the southwestern part of Lviv to the city center, the building benefits from proximity to a major urban artery—Kulparkivska Street—that generates demand for commercial services. A pedestrian plaza was introduced in front of the complex, creating a forecourt that mediates between the building and the surrounding neighborhood.
Program and spatial organization
The complex combines multiple functions within a compact urban footprint. Its program includes a Silpo supermarket, the children’s center “Kraina Mriy” with a restaurant, small retail units, and office spaces. These uses support the surrounding residential districts while introducing services previously absent from the area.
The building is organized as a variable-height volume of two and four storeys, positioned between two taller structures: a 15-storey residential tower and a 14-storey office tower. The lower height creates a transitional scale within the dense development pattern and maintains visual continuity between neighboring buildings. On the roof of the two-storey portion, an L-shaped landscaped terrace overlooks Antonovycha Street and the internal access road, extending outdoor space above the commercial levels.
Facade strategy and solar control
The building envelope is organized through a regular grid that structures both the main and terrace facades. Depth is introduced through triangular prism elements integrated into the facade pattern. These projections function as sun-shading devices, reducing direct solar exposure on the glazing while producing a pattern of shadows across the building surface.
Additional variation in the facade is achieved through the segmentation of window glazing and the arrangement of horizontal and vertical mullions. Along the main facade, the first-floor volume is recessed and fully glazed, forming a sheltered entrance forecourt that connects interior retail spaces with the public plaza.
Material selection and energy performance
Material selection prioritized products manufactured locally and designed with environmental considerations. Aluminum composite panels from the Ukrainian manufacturer Alufas were used for the exterior cladding. The panels are produced in accordance with carbon footprint reduction standards, contributing to a lower environmental impact associated with material production.
The building envelope incorporates Guardian Neutral 50/32 energy-efficient glazing, which balances daylight transmission with solar control. This glazing improves thermal performance and reduces cooling demand in interior spaces while maintaining transparency toward the plaza and surrounding streets.
Landscape integration and rooftop terrace
Landscape strategies extend across the roof terrace and the areas above the underground parking structure. These surfaces are planted with local plant species capable of adapting to urban climatic conditions and shallow soil depths. The planted areas contribute to microclimatic moderation while introducing greenery into the dense urban environment.
The L-shaped terrace creates an accessible outdoor space overlooking the adjacent streets and internal courtyard circulation. This elevated landscape functions as both a recreational area and a buffer between surrounding buildings.
Building systems and engineering solutions
Mechanical systems include supply and exhaust ventilation units equipped with counterflow heat recovery. By transferring heat from outgoing air to incoming fresh air, the system reduces energy demand associated with heating and ventilation while maintaining indoor air quality.
The most complex engineering aspect of the project involved the construction of the underground parking structure. The two-level excavation is located in close proximity to existing nine- and fifteen-storey residential buildings, Antonovycha Street, and internal access roads.
To stabilize the excavation, the construction employed approximately 1,200 bored injection and jet-grouted piles in combination with 29 ground anchors. This system ensured structural stability while allowing the parking facility to be integrated beneath the urban context.
