LUBOV & LUDY
project: Lubov & Ludy
location: Vyacheslava Chornovola Str, 94г, Rivne, Ukraine
area: 500 m²
year: 2026
photo: Mykhailo Lukashuk
team: Volodymyr Nepyivoda, Dmytro Bonesko, Serhii Andrienko, Serhii Prudkyi
This bright, open, and spacious restaurant is set near Lake Basiv Kut in the historic district of Rivne. Its concept revolves around sincerity, hospitality, lightness, and the pleasure of relaxed, unhurried communication.
The interior is shaped by three key materials, an abundance of natural light, and carefully considered bespoke solutions. Light wood defines the walls and ceiling, creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere. This material language continues onto the façade, visually linking interior and exterior into a single, coherent spatial narrative.
MATERIALITY WITH CHARACTER
Concrete introduces an urban note without sacrificing warmth. To avoid any sense of coldness or severity, the designers opted for mass-colored concrete with a subtle gradient – from muted pink to deep marsala. Pigment was added directly to the custom elements, forming layers of varying intensity. Concrete was used for the bar counter fronts, large planters, a communal table, and the hand-washing island in the restroom. The floor echoes this palette – a terrazzo-like pattern with asymmetrical pink and cherry accents set against a grey base.
One standout bespoke feature is the communal table, which features an induction hob integrated into the tabletop. Guests can watch dishes being prepared right at the table – safe, theatrical, and almost magical – turning the process itself into an unexpected emotional experience.
Light plays a central role in shaping the atmosphere. Panoramic windows and carefully designed ceiling openings – “light lanterns” – flood the space with soft daylight, setting the mood and giving the interior a sense of openness and emotional ease.
The third defining material is glass. A striking elongated lamp above the bar is composed of glass discs of varying diameters in a rich honey tone – a reference to the region’s amber deposits. This piece, along with the smaller rectangular pendants above the tables and the glass blocks behind the bar, was handcrafted by a workshop in Lviv. The glass blocks feature a minimalist relief and reappear in the bathrooms, where they extend from walls to ceiling, creating a monolithic, immersive effect.
AMBER & HONEY GLASS GLOW
The children’s room is designed in a restrained palette inspired by Scandinavian ideas of childhood – tactile materials, minimal decoration, and no visual noise. In line with the overall concept, this area can be easily transformed for various uses, including events.
TACTILE KIDS SPACE
A CONCEPT
“We aimed to create a space that works like vitamin D – filled with sunshine and able to lift your mood. The interior of Lubov & Ludy includes many custom solutions, yet all of them remain subtle and never demand attention. At the heart of this project is not design, but people and their emotions,” says Dmytro Bonessko, art director and partner at YOD Group.
TEAM
