YA VSESVIT Co-Working Space by Yakusha Design

YA VSESVIT, designed by Yakusha Design in Kyiv, Ukraine, is a co-working office created for design minded communities. The 180 square meters area currently hosts an architectural studio, a lecture hall for 80 seats, a design gallery and a modern co-working space.

Despite its multi-functionality, this creative space works perfectly as a single “organism” and anytime can be easily transformed from one unit to another. The space is based on the contrast of textures and unexpected combination of materials united by a monochromatic palette.

My biggest aim in this project is to stay honest, to create design that remains to live in future and not only 1 or 2 years, as all trends do. I took inspiration in my cultural roots and historical background, when people lived in harmony with nature, they knew how to keep balance between inner and outer world. When you take something from past and make it work for future, by simplifying, rethinking and experimenting with shape, texture or materials – is what inspires me in design and what I would like to share with the world.

– Victoriya Yakusha, architect and interior designer, owner of YA VSESVIT

At the entrance, guests are welcome with two gigantic 120-150 years old wooden mortars named “stupa”, acquired in the vintage market. Next to them, there is a set of modern floor vases TREMBITA, made of burnt wood, repeating the shape of a folk Ukrainian musical instrument with the same name.

An authentic clay plaster on the wall, recreated with the local craft technique aged 400 years, is right next to a futuristic cold coating of stainless steel and silver foil-fabric on poufs. An accurate symmetry of black bricks is settled next to a natural imperfection of the rough stone.

The working zone of design space YA VSESVIT is divided into sections using glass partitions that don`t interfere with the free flow of the sunlight.

The lecture hall is equipped with a large screen, although if necessary the projector can broadcast images of an architectural or interior project straight to the floor in the smallest details. Set of 100 sculptured chairs where created especially for this project from eco-composition: straw, linen, cotton, biopolymer. They can easily assemble into a compact group like puzzles, opening up space for other functions.

The kitchen and 2 bathrooms keep the same minimalist interior style and cleanliness of lines. All functions of the space, such as storage rooms, cabinets for equipment and working materials, refrigerator, sink, sideboard, are built-in and hidden from the eyes of the visitors.

In the centre of a cave-style meeting room there is a massive table made from a single piece of sandstone, the geometry and natural form of which were preserved untouched. The coarseness of the stone is softened by the delicate tectonics of the brickwork behind – one of the most complex elements of the interior.

Unlike in regular office space, where all the folders and papers are stored under the table, in YA VSESVIT co-working zone you will see low metal shelves, suspended over a large shared table. In addition to the main function, the shelves also perform a decorative one.

Facts
Architect – Victoriya Yakusha, Yakusha Design & Architecture Studio
Built area – 180 sq. m.
Completion Year – 2018, December
Location – Kyiv, Ukraine (V. Tutunnyka Str., 53, Kyiv, Ukraine 02000)
Photographer – Mikey Estrada
Manufacturers/Products – Baxter, FAINA Collection, antique décor, artisan custom pieces
Timeline: The process of project development took 9 month
Main materials: concrete, clay, sandstone, brick, steel panels
Awards – 1st prize at design competition “Interior of the Year 2018” in the category “Interior of Public and Administrative Buildings”, December 2018