In response to wartime shortages, local architectural practice Dubrovska Studio has created a fitness studio decorated with curtains and custom furniture made from materials sourced from around Kyiv.
Located in Kiev, Stan Its main space hosts barre and yoga classes for up to 15 people and covers 1,290 square feet (120 square meters) of reception area and locker area.
„In our situation, when we started the project, we got almost nothing. „We pieced the project together from the rest around Kyiv,” he said Dubrowska Studio Founder Natalie Dubrowska.
Visitors first enter the curtained reception and reception area, which features a custom, semi-circular sofa, reception desk and stone „small tables”.
Curtains follow a curved path in the corners to soften the space and „soften” the interior.
Much of the furniture is custom-made from locally sourced or reused materials, which the studio says is a „key concept” for the design – due to difficulties when ordering overseas during the ongoing Ukraine war.
While the sofa is upholstered in a neutral, multicolored fabric from the 1970s, the tables are fashioned from scraps found in a warehouse.
„The search for the perfect fabric turned out to be a comical journey, with many goblins having unpleasant cat-face illusions,” he said. Dubrovska. „Almost giving up, we lucked out and found a fabric that closely mirrored our initial design from the 1970s.”
A reception desk sits in one corner, made of cast concrete. Rough edges line the top to contrast with the smoothness of the surrounding curtains, while its smooth base leads to the concrete floor.
A standing mirror sits across the table, set in a stone to create „magic and special charm,” and next to it, a sink and countertop are hidden behind a curtain.
The same white curtains cover the large windows with the studio sitting in front of the reception area. Ballet barrels and even mirrors line the space.
A locker and changing room sits on the other side of the reception area, framed by wooden storage Dubrowska Studio „In the absence of minimal and smooth settlement” as opposed to standard metal lockers.
A bench made of the same pale wood sits in the center of the space, while the shower is lined with small white mosaic tiles to nod to the public restrooms.
According to the studio, there were frequent power outages during construction, but despite the challenges, Stan was a „sanctuary”.
„Stan embodies the spirit of feminine strength, elegance and individuality, inviting a transformative journey into its carefully curated space,” the studio said. „It’s not just a studio; it’s a sanctuary for self-expression and total well-being.”
Stan Studio is founded by a professional dancer Maria Treehaupt. „Stan” is the Latin translation of the Ukrainian word „ctah”, meaning „physical condition”.
Dubrowska Studio Located in Kyiv and founded in 2018 by the designer Natalie Dubrowska. It focuses on bringing “peace, harmony and self-connection” to projects.
Another recently completed project in Ukraine includes a vacation cabin in the Carpathian Mountains. Architecture and design studios recently shared how they’re coping with the two-year mark of Russia’s invasion.
Cinematographer Yevhenii Avramenko.
Project Credits:
Team: Natalie DubrowskaKaterina Bandura, Daria Shmirko
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