LVIV, Ukraine — Cukiernia, a popular pastry shop frequented by locals and tourists since 2000, is located on the first floor of a historic building in central Lviv.

The YOD Group’s transformation of the pastry shop began with a search for new meanings and symbols for Cukiernia. It was important not only to update the design, but also to rethink the general concept and to boost the iconic brand with fresh energy. At the same time, it was important to preserve the DNA of the place, delicately defining the continuity of tradition as one of its core values.

The main approach in this project was to work with monomaterials and to play with nuances. The interior combines two key materials and several auxiliary ones. The main ones are marble and a unique eggshell plaster, with light wood and noble brass being the supportive ones.

Italian marble, in a warm creamy brownish color palette, covers the horizontal surfaces of the interior - the floor and countertops. The caramel veins in the natural pattern of the marble echo the theme of caramel or cream in layered cakes.

The walls of Cukiernia are covered with a unique material based on eggshells, created specifically for the project. One Ukrainian poultry farm donated more than a ton of shells to create the egg plaster. The shells were thoroughly washed, dried, and crushed to the required fraction to be mixed with a special glued base. Multiple experiments led to finding the best degree of grinding, formula, and application method. It was important to make the eggshells recognized visibly on the wall surface, while also avoiding excessive relief and abrasiveness so that guests' clothes would not catch on and their hands would not get screeched by accidental touches to the walls.

To achieve the desired color, the more than 2,800 pounds of donated white eggshells were mixed with 440 pounds of brown shells from eggs used by the confectionary.

The 1,776-square-foot space of Cukiernia consists of three halls. The first one, through which guests enter the place, has a multi-tiered display case with confectionery. Visitors can walk around it and look at the assortment of cakes, cookies, and pastries before making their choice. There is also a staircase to the second level, with wooden banisters with a dynamic rounded shape.

The second hall has a bar island, structurally resembling the design of the showcase from the first hall. Next to the bar counter are chairs of the Ukrainian brand Woo.

The third and largest hall accommodates several seating options, including small tables for one or two people and a long communal table. A significant disadvantage of the space was that it did not have much daylight. To visually fill the halls with air, designers used a light color palette and laconic arched niches-windows that connect adjacent halls. The laconic pendant lamps by Spanish brand Aromas del Campo support rounded outlines of the arches and furniture.

Time-tested bentwood chairs remained from the former interior of the Cukiernia. They were restored and partially painted white, like cookies glazed with icing. They also left the wooden bases of the old tables, supplementing them with round marble tops. The massive antique cabinet next to the communal table supports the theme of traditions. This unique piece of furniture from the Lviv Secession period came to Cukiernia from the private collection of the venue's owner.