Lviv is one of Ukraine‘s biggest cities, and despite circumstances, it has retained its reputation as the country’s culinary capital. Needless to say, this stature has rubbed off on other sectors within hospitality, continuing a slow yet steady evolvement of the local scene, offering dwellers welcoming places where to kick back, recharge, and cope with day to day challenges. The Mitte café, set up by fraternal entrepreneurs Artem and Mykhailo Pavlenko, has opened a second outpost in the heart of the city. The café occupies a 68 sqm. (732 sq.ft.) space on the ground floor of a residential building, which previously was an apartment, and later, a barber shop. The interior design, a collaborative effort of local architecture practices LIS and 38050, proved to be quite a challenge to unify different rooms and nooks with a suitable design. Prior to the execution, the premises had to be entirely pared back, while new elements needed to be implemented in order to create the very foundation of the chosen aesthetic. Upon entering the premises, visitors come across a cozy bar area with a large communal table with various stools, with additional bar seating in the window. A backdrop of dark timber ties in with a recessed sink unit, large service counter, and additional seating directly opposite.

A curtain demarcates the entrance of an adjacent room with additional seating, comprising a cushioned bench lining the side wall, paired with individual tables and a variety of chairs, as well as an intimate nook with one more table, albeit a small one and two chairs. This set-up allows flexible reconfiguration to accommodate varying group sizes. At the far end sits Mitte‘s and a defining architectural node: the original trapezoidal geometry was softened by introducing an arched opening and an additional seating niche. This node is both visually pivotal and technically demanding, creating an acoustic buffer from the main hall. Meanwhile a suspended, artistic light fixture by artist Ivan Radkovets vies with a curated range of artworks for attention. The latter creative also designed othee light fixtures, while the elegant table lamps designs are by local brand object therapy. As for the materials used, about 80% of the cabinetry and furniture is crafted from plywood and birch, with partial use of oak. The colour scheme is subservient to the earthy finishes. As an all-day meeting place, Mitte‘s elaborate menu readily accommodates with breakfast options, savoury bites, salads, a wide selection of pastries, in addition to coffee concoctions, matcha and other beverages. © superfuture