ITALIAN EDITION
location Kyiv (Ukraine) / area 1,615 ft²/ year 2018 /budget 600 000$ / duration 4.5 month
ABOUT
Italian Edition is a new interpretation of Italian cuisine by brand chef Volodymyr Tashaiev and renowned restaurateur Dmytro Zaporozhets, brought to life in the very heart of Kyiv. I had the privilege to contribute to this project as the Technical Director of First Line Group, overseeing the entire construction process and the transformation of a heritage-listed building. My role went far beyond managing engineering, ventilation, electricity, or acoustics — it was about carefully integrating a contemporary restaurant into the historic fabric of the facade, preserving the building’s character and significance.
We created a space that seamlessly combined historical context with the modern rhythm of the city: a bright, open, and dynamic restaurant with an open-kitchen concept and a wood-fired pizza oven, where the bar and dining hall function as one environment, and the culinary process itself becomes part of the guest experience.
We created a space that seamlessly combined historical context with the modern rhythm of the city: a bright, open, and dynamic restaurant with an open-kitchen concept and a wood-fired pizza oven, where the bar and dining hall function as one environment, and the culinary process itself becomes part of the guest experience.
CONSTRUCTION
The restaurant, with a total area of just 1,615 sq ft, was a true challenge: within this compact space we had to accommodate more than 80 seats and a fully equipped kitchen capable of delivering the entire spectrum of Italian cuisine. The solution was to create a unified open space where the kitchen, wood-fired oven, and bar worked together seamlessly, turning the cooking process itself into part of the guest experience.
We reconstructed the old wooden floor slab of a Stalin-era building, restored and reinforced the load-bearing structures, and created a new ceiling with artistic painting and gypsum molding. The walls were finished in an “English cabinet” style, using simple materials with a premium visual effect, while the furniture was custom-made from concrete and microcement. Modern engineering systems — ventilation with water purification and carbon filters, electricity, plumbing, and drainage — were integrated in a way that preserved the building’s historical value while ensuring the comfort and efficiency of the restaurant.
Furniture for Italian Edition became an integral part of the restaurant’s architectural concept. A significant portion was custom-designed: concrete bar structures and built-in elements made of microcement and brick added a sense of monumentality to the space. For comfort, these robust forms were paired with soft leather cushions seamlessly integrated into the stone bases. The walls were finished with oiled plywood panels divided by wooden battens, creating the look of fine veneer and giving the interior the refined atmosphere of an English cabinet. Part of the furniture was sourced from Italy, while the rest was produced locally under my direct supervision — from design to final detailing. This mix allowed us to combine functionality, aesthetics, and individuality, ensuring that every element of the interior had its own character.
Individually designed metal structures and built-in elements, produced under my direct supervision.
Project Execution Overview — “Italian Edition”
• Full reconstruction of the 1,615 sq ft premises.
• Space optimization for 80 seats + a fully functional Italian kitchen.
• Integration of an open-kitchen and wood-fired oven directly into the dining hall together with the bar.
• Reconstruction and restoration of the old wooden slab of the Stalin-era building.
• Reinforcement of load-bearing columns and structural elements.
• Creation of a new ceiling space: artistic painting, gypsum molding, pilasters, and half-meter gypsum cornices.
• Wall finishes in “English cabinet” style (plywood, wooden battens, oil treatment).
• Custom furniture production from concrete and microcement.
• Installation of full engineering systems: electricity, plumbing, ventilation, drainage, septic tanks, grease traps.
• Ventilation system with water purification and carbon filters to eliminate odors.
• Replacement of windows with guillotine systems, integrating high dining counters by the windows.
• Full reconstruction of the 1,615 sq ft premises.
• Space optimization for 80 seats + a fully functional Italian kitchen.
• Integration of an open-kitchen and wood-fired oven directly into the dining hall together with the bar.
• Reconstruction and restoration of the old wooden slab of the Stalin-era building.
• Reinforcement of load-bearing columns and structural elements.
• Creation of a new ceiling space: artistic painting, gypsum molding, pilasters, and half-meter gypsum cornices.
• Wall finishes in “English cabinet” style (plywood, wooden battens, oil treatment).
• Custom furniture production from concrete and microcement.
• Installation of full engineering systems: electricity, plumbing, ventilation, drainage, septic tanks, grease traps.
• Ventilation system with water purification and carbon filters to eliminate odors.
• Replacement of windows with guillotine systems, integrating high dining counters by the windows.
From an early age, I’ve had the ability to adapt quickly to complex situations and find solutions where others see only dead ends. This trait has become my key tool in managing large-scale projects: from overcoming construction challenges to navigating documentation and regulatory approvals. I solve problems fast — to keep moving forward — and thoroughly — so there’s never a need to revisit them.
My work is about complete transformation. I take the keys to an abandoned, empty space and leave only when the tables are set, the plates are ready, and the manager receives the symbolic new keys tied with a ribbon. It’s a journey from chaos to structure, from a bare framework to a space that operates as a seamless mechanism. And it’s this responsibility for the final result that defines me and my work.
My work is about complete transformation. I take the keys to an abandoned, empty space and leave only when the tables are set, the plates are ready, and the manager receives the symbolic new keys tied with a ribbon. It’s a journey from chaos to structure, from a bare framework to a space that operates as a seamless mechanism. And it’s this responsibility for the final result that defines me and my work.
artur.mishuk@gmail.com
