WHITE RABBIT SURF CAFE
Design - Natali Solovey, SOLOVEYDESIGN
Project Area - 60 sq m
Project Year - 2021
Location - Khmelnitsky, Ukraine
Photo credits - Yevhenii Avramenko
When the customer and the designer met for the first time at the facility, they immediately saw a great potential for the implementation of the plans in a building built in 1964 near a sports stadium, in the park in Khmelnitsky, Ukraine. The former showers and changing rooms for volleyball players were abandoned and were not used for many years.
The customer has been engaged in SUP surfing for several years and dreamed of creating a sport school, store and a cafe shop to promote this sport in Ukraine. This is how began the story of the creation of the White Rabbit Surf Cafe.
Since the budget was limited, a concept was needed to meet the minimum implementation costs. Dismantling the walls, a layer of plaster, tiles and linoleum, the excellent texture of the old brick and the imprints of the tiles itself was revealed. It was decided to leave the walls natural, covering them with white paint.
All the windows were dismantled, almost the entire blank wall was knocked out, for the installation of a large stained-glass window, with access to the terrace and overlooking the Southern Bug River. The floor was covered with concrete and varnished.
According to the designer's sketches, all the ash wood furniture, as well as metal structures, were ordered and made by local craftsmen. White chairs, armchairs, a coffee table and decor were ordered from Ukrainian manufacturers.
The room is conditionally divided into 2 parts - a cafe shop area and a store with sup boards, where you can rent or buy boards and paddle. The café shop has a special atmosphere in winter, when a fire is kindled in the fireplace and the smell of firewood is mixed with fresh pastries and coffee.
Corner where there are sup boards for training.
Evening atmosphere.
On the street, steps and a ramp for wheelchairs, a platform in front of the entrance were poured from concrete, and a light spacious terrace, made of metal and wood was designed. In the summer the chair bags, and sun beds are placed closer to the river on it. White Rabbit also hosts art evenings, exhibitions of artists, concerts of live music and poetry.
Plan of project.
