Zmist Bar II, Kyiv | Ukraine | Yova Yager Design

A modern megalopolis is a place of completely different individuals whose brightness and identity are lost in bulk of the big city. Colours run into grey, variety turn into fog when faces and personalities can barely be recognized. To set off everyone’s individuality and give an opportunity to reveal one’s personality designers of ZMIST bar in Kyiv decided to use a grey colour monochrome approach. It was a rather difficult task since grey usually gives a cold and uncomfortable feeling, however the problem was solved with implementing metallic elements and warm amber and wooden accents. Also to make the place cozier there are some peculiar features such as special ergonomics seats, lower than the standard, but comfortable for eating; two bars; a variety of soft seats for big and small companies and non-intrusive light.

The design concept helped to reveal the meaning of the name of the place (Z stands for the Ukrainian preposition which means “with” so that ZMIST can be seen as “with mist”). This project gives an opportunity to realize the main idea of the YOVA YAGER hospitality design studio which is creation of places where people can come into focus, take a new look at themselves, communicate, work and relax. Places that people want to return to, places, connected with good memories and emotions because there genuine meetings happen.

One more special feature of the design is decorative panels made from cutting boards and plastic packaging that were delivered from London exclusively for the ZMIST Klovska project. The important fact is that the project client and the owner of ZMIST BAR got encouraged with the idea of ​​the simultaneous existence of expensive materials and materials that people usually consider to be waste. Thanks to Client’s perseverance and persistence, it was able to get the panels made by “Smile Plastics” company to Ukraine. These British designers use hand-made styling to create unique patterns of their products, trying to use sorted waste in manufacturing. For example, it takes 16 - 58 kg of mixed waste packs or about 100-150 cutting boards to make one panel. Those panels look gorgeous - and to some extent remind a cabbage slices.

The fact that not just local suppliers were involved in this project is a pity. However this particular story helped the whole idea to be discussed in Ukraine, so that hopefully some local manufacturers of recycled plastic masterpieces could appear soon.

Using recycled materials is not a way out of a global environmental catastrophe, since lots of energy and natural resources are spent on waste recycling. The way out is to avoid such volumes of waste, cool down your consumer ardour and do shopping consciously. The goal of such projects is to make it clear that waste does not always smell bad, it can be recycled and reused.