mosaic tiles, check patterns, and textured veneers clad YOD group's bistro in ukraine

lumo bistro pays homage to the italian memphis group

YOD Group’s Lumo is a bright and democratic bistro on one of Dnipro’s central streets in Ukraine. The project is inspired by modern Italy, or rather, a mix of its various cultural facets, with its mosaic tiles, check patterns, and textured veneers referring to the Memphis group that revolutionized Italian design in the 80s. A rounded bar forms the focal point, above which a vast lamp cap rises, resembling ample meringue on a cake and working as a visual magnet of the interior. Through the panoramic windows, the illuminated bar is visible from the street and the square opposite the restaurant, attracting passersby in.

all images by Oleksandr Anhelovskyi

yod group contrasts achromatic materials with organic forms

Lumo uses Alpi veneer, whose original design was created by the founder of Memphis Ettore Sottsass. Within, Italian features continue to define YOD Group’s design concept. Molded cast-iron table legs, which are found in almost every other typical Italian coffee shop, are integrated throughout. Usually, they use black-fired cast iron, but the table legs at Lumo are finished with the cold glow of polished cast iron. The Ukraine-based architects further introduce original accents with a leather canvas with raw edges, stretched and fixed to the round tabletops in a way that is used in the course of material preparation in Italian leather workshops.

The primarily achromatic material palette of Lumo includes mosaic tiles, metal, and leather, broken by shades of wood, an orange strip on the floor that zones the space, and a bright red sink in the bathroom. Emphasizing the hospitable ambiance of the restaurant are rounded forms such as of those of the shades of pendant lamps, the line of the bar counter, and a large arch portal separating the main hall from the cupboard and bathrooms. ‘We aimed to create a high-quality and restrained design for a wide audience. A bright, friendly, open format that works right here and now. It took eight months from the idea to the restaurant launch,’ says Dmitry Bonesko, YOD Group art director.

Lumo is a bright and democratic bistro on one of Dnipro’s central streets

realized by Ukrainian architecture studio YOD Group

the project is inspired by modern Italy, or rather, a mix of its various cultural facets

Lumo uses Alpi veneer, whose original design was created by the founder of Memphis Ettore Sottsass

a large arch portal separating the main hall from the cupboard and bathrooms

a rounded bar forms the focal point, above which a vast lamp cap rises

the primarily achromatic material palette of Lumo includes mosaic tiles, metal, and leather

emphasizing the hospitable ambiance are rounded forms such as of those of the shades of pendant lamp

molded cast-iron table legs, which are found in almost every other Italian coffee shop, are integrated throughout

bathroom space

project info:

name: Lumo
architect: YOD Group | @yod.group

location: Dnipro, Ukraine

area: 282 square meters

photographer: Oleksandr Anhelovskyi

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edited by: ravail khan | designboom