The GUNIA Project flagship store in Kyiv marks a significant step in the brand’s evolution, reinforcing its positioning within the international landscape of contemporary retail design. Located at Zolotovoritska 2A, in the Ukrainian capital, the store occupies a historic building that previously housed the Embassy of the Republic of Panama. From the outset, the project establishes a refined dialogue between architectural heritage and a contemporary design language, shaping a spatial experience that is both coherent and deeply rooted in identity.
The interiors result from a meticulous design process that enhances the building’s original character while, at the same time, introducing a contemporary narrative aligned with the brand’s values. As a result, the store is conceived not merely as a retail space, but as a cultural environment capable of expressing GUNIA Project through space, materials and atmosphere.
A project by Temp Project
The concept is developed by Anastasiia Tempynska, founder of Temp Project studio, who approaches the intervention with a sensitive and layered design strategy. Key historical features – including the original wooden ceilings and wall panels – are carefully preserved and integrated into a new spatial grammar that respects the past while addressing present-day needs.
Rather than erasing the building’s memory, the project uses it as a narrative foundation. Consequently, architectural continuity becomes a central design tool, allowing the flagship store to balance authenticity and contemporary expression without resorting to nostalgia.
Materials, colors and atmosphere between heritage and contemporaneity
The space unfolds through fluid environments in which architecture and objects continuously interact. Glossy green ceramic tiles define a strong visual backdrop, supporting linear shelving systems that display the brand’s ceramic collections. At the same time, essential tables with grey finishes and fabric-upholstered seating introduce a sense of functional clarity.
Moreover, unexpected elements – such as a white fur-covered chair – soften the overall composition, adding warmth and a tactile dimension. The chromatic palette alternates deep green tones with neutral shades, while vibrant accents, including colorful ceramics and orange seating, punctuate the space with contemporary energy.
Interior design for artisanal flagship stores
The GUNIA Project flagship store in Kyiv brings together all of the brand’s main product categories – ceramics, textiles and jewelry – within a single, cohesive environment. Each piece is positioned to interact with the surrounding architecture, reinforcing the relationship between object and space.
Display areas showcase products that reinterpret Ukrainian artisanal traditions through a modern lens. As a result, the store consolidates the brand’s role as a bridge between cultural heritage and contemporary design, avoiding purely decorative solutions in favor of a narrative-driven approach.
A place of identity and storytelling
With this project, GUNIA Project goes beyond the opening of a new retail location and affirms its role as a cultural ambassador. Architecture, art and design converge into a coherent spatial narrative that invites visitors to engage with the brand’s values.
Ultimately, the store becomes a symbolic setting in which craftsmanship, memory and innovation are seamlessly connected, demonstrating how contemporary retail spaces can function as platforms for cultural storytelling as well as commerce.
by AN Shopfitting Magazine no.189 ©