Karavaevi Brothers 4

Function: Cafe-Culinary Shop
Location: Rusakovskay st 31, Sokolniki, Moscow
Project: 2021, Total area: 150 m2
Status: Completed

The new location became the 42nd restaurant of the Karavaevi Brothers chain and the fourth project developed for the brand. Situated inside the renovated Sokolniki shopping center, next to the district’s main park and metro station, the café occupies a site defined by intense pedestrian traffic — unlike most locations of the chain, typically placed in quieter urban settings. In response, the interior was conceived as a balancing environment: protective, warm, and spatially enveloping.
The conceptual starting point was the American National Exhibition, which took place in Sokolniki in 1959 — a pivotal cultural event visited by more than two million people. For many Soviet citizens, it offered a first glimpse beyond the Iron Curtain, presenting not only industrial achievements but a new domestic and spatial paradigm. The geodesic dome by Richard Buckminster Fuller, pavilion structures created under the direction of George Nelson, and the multimedia installation by Charles and Ray Eames formed an architectural and ideological moment. This historical layer became the intellectual framework for the project.

3rd Prize Winner: V International Festival «Dom na Brestskoy 2022» | Category: Built Projects

The interior unfolds as a dialogue between this legacy of mid-century American modernism and the architectural context of the district, including the work of Konstantin Melnikov. References are embedded in key elements: a suspended polished brass shelf inspired by the geometry of the main exhibition pavilion; pendant structures echoing Fuller’s spatial nodes; oval wall panels paired with Nelson clocks, recalling the duo’s multi-screen film installation; and a bespoke floor pattern drawing from the diamond-shaped textures of the Eames House carpets and the ceramic floors of historic brick buildings nearby. Reflective ceiling “clouds,” shaped as softened honeycombs, reference Fuller’s domes while subtly nodding to Charles and Ray’s interest in hanging interior objects.
The furniture selection reinforces this dialogue. Alongside custom-designed elements, the interior incorporates pieces by Nelson, Jean Prouvé, and Jasper Morrison, while the iconic Eames House Bird appears as a discreet accent — forming a composed layer of twentieth-century design within a contemporary setting.

The kitchen remains strictly utilitarian and monochrome, contrasting with the richly layered visitor zone. The cash counter is clad in natural Patagonia quartzite, appearing to hover above the floor due to concealed lighting. The gastronomic showcase features a unique wave-shaped front — a purpose-built solution that later entered limited production and was presented by the manufacturer at professional exhibitions. Natural, tactile, and durable materials were selected to ensure longevity in a high-traffic environment, allowing the interior to age with dignity over time.
Custom veneered wooden slat panels on the walls and central column, developed according to the architect’s drawings, introduce rhythm and spatial depth while softening the perimeter of the dining area, reinforcing the crafted character of the interior. The lighting concept, implemented with museum-grade equipment by ERCO, supports a warm atmosphere while allowing the ceiling structures to remain visually intact and unchanged.

Project team: Evgeniy Shchetinkin, Anna Selyanina, Kirill Shuvaev
Lighting design: Elena Dorofeeva, Sergey Moskvitin as Solo Light Solutions
General contractor: Sk Globalstroy, Kitchen equipment: Servisepro, Ventilation: Atmosphere, Woodwork: Ekzofloor, Metal: Osnova, Stone: Liga Kamnya, Flooring: Pro Tile
Photo: Polina Poludkina

Publications: ProRus, Superfuture, AD Magazine, Elle/My Decor, Archi.Ru

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