Seven Lakes Project: Integrating Local Cuisine with Interior and Exterior Spaces
Farm Table: A Place-Based Dining Experience
Location and Context
The Farm Table is located within the Seven Lakes Restaurant & Hotel complex on the outskirts of Kyiv, directly overlooking the waterfront. This location does not serve merely as a visual backdrop but actively contributes to shaping the dining experience itself.
Culinary Design Concept
The project is based on the idea of a single-source kitchen, minimizing the distance between production and consumption. In this way, the space becomes a clear link between nature and the table, relying entirely on locally sourced ingredients.
Menu Philosophy
The menu centers on fish sourced from the site’s own lakes, alongside seasonal agricultural products grown on the farm. As a result, the philosophy of “honest taste” is embodied, expressing purity and simplicity, not as a marketing slogan, but as a daily practice.
Cultural Dimension
Finally, this approach draws on deep roots in Ukrainian culinary traditions, where food is seen as an extension of the land and environment, rather than merely a finished product.
Atmosphere and Spatial Experience
Design as a Means to Slow Down
The space continues to reinforce its commitment to locality and authenticity, not only through the food but also through the overall ambiance. The interior design is characterized by lightness and sensuality, with a prominent presence of natural materials that instantly evoke comfort and tranquility.
The space is crafted to serve as an area for relaxation and slowing the daily pace. Every element appears deliberately chosen to support a calm experience, where the design does not impose itself but allows the feeling of the place to emerge naturally.
Connection Between Interior and Exterior
Floor-to-ceiling windows play a central role in this approach. With a vertical “scissor-type” opening system, the boundaries between the restaurant and the garden disappear during warm weather, blending interior and exterior into a single, seamlessly connected environment.
The Kitchen as Part of the Experience
In the same context, the open kitchen enhances this connection, turning the cooking process into a visible daily performance, deepening the guest’s relationship with the space and making them part of the experience rather than just a passive observer.
Material as a Component of Identity
Unconventional Use of Sandstone
Ukrainian red sandstone, extracted from the Terebovlia quarry, forms the core material in the interior design. This stone is distinguished by its warmth, granular texture, and naturally matte finish, giving it a tangible, sensory presence within the space.
Unlike its traditional application in exterior elements such as fences and building foundations, sandstone is employed here within the interior. It appears in flooring, large communal tables, and bar elements, imparting a raw and authentic character that breaks from the ordinary.
Color Harmony and Complementary Materials
The deep wine-like hue harmonizes with light wood and the soft tones of linen curtains, creating a visual balance between material weight and visual softness, without artificiality or exaggeration.
Sculptural Element and Sensory Experience
In the restaurant foyer, a large sculptural wine display is carved from a solid block of sandstone. This heavy, texture-rich piece is not only visually appreciated but also invites tactile interaction, emphasizing the material’s presence as a value in itself.
Philosophy of Proximity to Nature
Compared to commonly used synthetic materials in public spaces, this deliberate use of natural stone reinforces the project’s philosophy of material honesty and remaining close to nature.
Plants as an Extension of the Natural Landscape
Locally planted pine trees within large planters contribute to a sense of continuity between interior and exterior. In this way, plants are not treated as mere decorative elements but as an integral part of the spatial composition.
Light and Space
Circular skylights introduce sufficient natural light necessary for plant growth. At the same time, they add a subtle visual dimension that softens the rigidity of straight lines, through the presence of curved forms within the simple interior design.
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
According to Volodymyr Nepiyevoda, Managing Partner at YOD Group, the project is based on integrating the interior philosophy of the kitchen with the natural context of the Seven Lakes complex. The result is a space that extends in harmony with the natural landscape rather than competing with it, clearly embodying a design approach rooted in the concept of terroir as a reciprocal relationship between place and its produce.
It can be noted that the Seven Lakes project offers a clear example of integrating local cuisine with both interior and exterior spaces, with a tangible attention to natural materials, lighting, and connection to the surrounding landscape. This aspect allows architects to study the relationship between food and place as an architectural phenomenon.
However, the approach remains limited in terms of repeatability or adaptability in different urban contexts, as the project is confined to a spacious rural environment with abundant natural resources. This may make it challenging to replicate the experience in city projects or locations with restricted space.
Moreover, the intensive focus on natural materials, such as the Ukrainian red sandstone, while sensorially significant, may impose design and practical constraints regarding maintenance and cost, especially when attempting to scale the concept. On the other hand, the project provides valuable lessons on the use of natural light and skylights to enhance the connection between interior and exterior. Architects can benefit from this strategy when designing open spaces or integrating nature into interior environments, even if the exact materials or methods are not employed.
Overall, the project reflects a clear and specific vision, yet it raises important questions regarding adaptability, practical feasibility, and scalability, points that scholars and architects can draw upon when exploring the relationship between architectural philosophy, place, and the natural context.
✅ Official ArchUp Technical Review completed for this article.