Architecture practice Mirzoyan Studio has renovated an apartment in the historic centre of Kyiv, Ukraine, adding reflective surfaces and built-in oak furniture.
The studio updated the two-bedroom apartment, which is within a Stalinka – a type of building characteristic of the architecture of the Soviet Union under the leadership of Joseph Stalin in the 1930s – to turn it into a rental property.
Mirzoyan Studio founder Nastia Mirzoyan explained that the building’s historical character posed certain structural limitations, requiring “careful planning to avoid compromising its integrity”. To create the rental property, Mirzoyan opened up the apartment, which was originally the client’s family home.
“To create a more spacious environment, we decided to merge the living room and kitchen into one common area,” explained Mirzoyan.
The practice used partition shelves and built-in furniture to seperate the spaces. A wooden shelving unit takes centre stage in the main space, dividing the living room from the kitchen.
The dining table extends out from the shelving unit towards the kitchen. Cabinets and a countertop finished in polished stainless steel are fixed in the primary working nook of the kitchen.
Near the entrance, the team installed a full-height mirrored closet, creating a distinct entryway.
Leftover broken marble was sourced from a local supplier for the flooring of the entryway and the bathroom.
The studio’s colour choices were influenced by the fact that the apartment is oriented towards the northeast and receives limited natural light.
“We opted for light and warm background colours to counteract this, creating a brighter and more inviting space,” said Mirzoyan.
The property is dotted with reflective materials such as mirrors and stainless steel, which were chosen to “enhance the perceived depth and brightness”.
The living room and kitchen are lined with French windows opening into a quiet courtyard.
The use of materials such as wood and terrazzo across the space is a reference to the building’s heritage, aiming to add a “sense of historical continuity”.
Mirzoyan’s design philosophy is focused on striving to create “spaces that blend local history with contemporary elements, balancing eclectic decisions to produce environments that feel both timeless and modern”.
Owing to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the practice faced significant challenges in completing this project.
“Sometimes builders simply could not come to the site, and sometimes they came and sat in a shelter for hours,” Mirzoyan told Dezeen. “There were times when construction was halted for months, and the project budget was cut in half.”
“This experience has reinforced the importance of practical and durable design solutions that can withstand unpredictable conditions.”
Moreover, Mirzoyan foresees a trend towards “using locally sourced materials and supporting local craftsmen, contributing to the resilience and self-sufficiency of the community”.
Recently, Mirzoyan Studio also completed a hotel bar in Kyiv’s historic Podil neighbourhood.
Elsewhere in the city, Modektura has renovated an apartment featuring a balcony-turned-conservatory and Dihome has created a colourful industrial-style interior for a young couple.
The photography is by Yevhenii Avramenko.
