'punkraft' bar by ater brings the rebellious spirit of craft beer to downtown kiev

ater architects has designed a new bar located in the podol area of downtown kiev in ukraine. formerly home to a cocktail bar, the design of ‘punkraft’ intends to pay homage to the rebellious nature of the craft beer movement. the architects were tasked with the challenge of changing the schematic layout of the premises, equipping it with a cold room for storing beer kegs and completely redesigning the interior, including the entrance and guest zones. 

all images courtesy of ater architects 

the resulting design by the architect utilizes materials that represent the industrial aesthetics of beer equipment. stainless steel, cold rolled metal, concrete and neon lights are used to create a rebellious atmosphere in the bar area. in contrast, softer and more tactile materials are applied in the main guests’ areas to provide a more comfortable ambience. this is achieved by using oak wood, textile upholstery and warm muted light. in addition, the original, historical brick arches have been retained in the interior.

the stainless steel creates an industrial aesthetic

the plan of the space is divided into three zones: the bar, communal areas and quiet areas. the main feature of the bar is a 3.5-meter-long, 24 tap, custom draft beer tower connected with the cooling chamber. it allows a constant rotation of assorted craft beers on tap at all times. the ceiling above the bar is made up of metal arched segments as a reference to the brick vaults of neighboring halls. overall, the design of ‘punkraft’ effectively invites craft beer lovers with it’s industrial, punk interior.

the metal arched segments above the bar refer to the historic brick vaults

the original brick has been retained

arched screens have been used to emphasize the archlines

the two aisles of the communal zone are specially designed to host large groups

the quiet room furnished with cozy sofas invites for more peaceful and relaxed socializing

a niche hand-painted by alexander grebenyuk, a renowned ukrainian street artist

oak bars with the name of beer, its style, alcoholicity, the percentage of bitterness and cost

the walls have been decorated with a pattern of street tags

the cold storage for beer kegs

the wide range of craft beers ‘punkraft’ has to offer

project info:

project name: ‘punkraft’

location: podol, kiev downtown, ukraine

architect: ater architects

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom