Ukrainian designer Anastasiia Tempynska combined futuristic details with fleshy materials that evoke the human body when creating the interior of the 13 Laser clinic and spa in Kyiv.
Tempynska created an interior for 13 Laser that reflects the innovative technologies used by the clinic to perform procedures such as laser hair removal and skin resurfacing, on top of traditional treatments like massage and facials.
“I aimed to achieve a contrast between natural softness, expressed in textures and materials, and something unnatural that is connected with human activity – mirrors, neon, metal – something that looks like perfection,” Tempynska told Dezeen.
“I also wanted to achieve an unobtrusive but simple luxury aesthetic,” added the designer, who founded her studio Temp Project in 2021.
The clinic consists of a generous reception and five treatment rooms including a larger space that can be booked by couples or friends. It is located on the ground floor of a modern residential complex and, prior to the fit-out, was an empty shell with red-brick walls and concrete columns.
Tempynska introduced a palette of muted grey and white tones that provides a minimalist background, upon which she layered metallic finishes and matte textures informed by the design of medical equipment.
The result is a futuristic aesthetic that is brightened and warmed by accents of pink and sky-blue, applied to furnishings and elements such as a neon sign in the reception area.
The technological aesthetic is reinforced by custom-made elements such as an angular mirror that looks like it was cut by a laser.
Scientific equipment such as flasks and beakers informed the glass block wall in the reception area, while the exposed utilities on the ceiling contribute to the sci-fi feel.
The designer also sought to evoke the spa’s focus on the human body through the use of tones and textural materials that recall anatomical features.
The bouclé texture of several soft seating areas was chosen to reference the irregularities of skin when magnified under a microscope, while a lumpy side table was painted in a fleshy pink colour.
“I was looking for a second-order association to manifest the theme of corporeality within the futuristic concept,” said Tempynska.
“It was the colour pink – the colour of redness on the skin that reacts to cosmetic procedures. It is also the colour of the palm of your hand when you look at it on a sunny day.”
The theme of nature was manifested in the monolithic reception desk, which weighs 400 kilograms and is made from concrete painted to resemble a solid chunk of stone.
Other roughly textured or patterned elements were chosen to enhance the natural feel, with ceramic floor tiles complementing the desk’s stone-like surface.
The pock-marked edge of a console table evokes the texture of a pumice stone used to exfoliate skin, while the uneven wall behind the reception desk recalls the mud used for some of the spa’s treatments.
Most of the furniture featured in the project was custom-made, including a tubular floor lamp with integrated flower vases that is situated near the entrance.
The angular mirror on wheels was designed for taking interesting selfies, while the bespoke neon sign references the pulse of a laser.
Tempynska worked for several design studios prior to setting up her own office. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine at the start of 2022 left her briefly without work. However, clients gradually returned and she has since completed numerous projects despite the challenges posed by the ongoing war.
“There was a time when we worked without communication and electricity,” the designer recalled. “I couldn’t leave the Dnipro left bank and often couldn’t call the builders.”
“When I came to their workshop, they illuminated the products with a flashlight, but we work and believe in our victory,” she continued.
Other projects that have recently been completed in Kyiv include Olga Fradina’s soothing, monochromatic interior for a wellness centre called Space and a refurbished attic apartment with views over the city.
The photography is by Yevhenii Avramenko.
Source: Rooms - dezeen.com
