When your project site is a 19th-century building with a rich history, the task goes far beyond an ordinary renovation. Our goal was ambitious: to turn the former Ironbridge Mill — an architectural landmark in the city's old mill district — into a modern, multi-functional space. Inspired by European creative clusters, our clients envisioned a co-working space for designers — somewhere to not only work, but hold meetings, present projects, build mood boards, and exchange ideas.

The biggest challenge was preserving the spirit of the place while introducing modern standards of comfort. In the interior design, we deliberately let the historic context take the lead. The restored brick masonry, stripped of layers of old plaster, became the space's focal point. Rather than fight it, we leaned into the noble texture of the old brick with a restrained palette: deep chocolate-browns, neutral gray, and clean white strike the right balance between loft-style rawness and an intimate working atmosphere.

The one bold accent we allowed ourselves in this otherwise restrained space is a scarlet drape at the entrance. It functions as an art piece and a visual anchor, setting the tone for the entire interior.

The centerpiece of the whole project is the meeting room. We looked for a way to make it more than just a functional space — a genuine statement. That's how the idea of a stained-glass door inspired by Piet Mondrian's compositions came to be. Crisp geometry, primary colors, black lines — classic painting brought to new life inside an industrial loft. The stained glass acts as a light filter, bending natural light and coloring the interior with a mood that shifts throughout the day depending on the angle of the sun.

We didn't set out to prove this space's status as a showcase of modern interior design through big statements — we did it through the careful selection of every single element. Nothing here is random: all the furniture and decor are either custom pieces created specifically for this project, or products from leading international brands. We deliberately avoided off-the-shelf solutions, so that every guest and client would feel that this space was created with real respect for the craft of interior design.

Project team:
Chief Architect — Alexey Obychev
Studio Designer — Liliya Kalinicheva
Art Director — Elina Steinberg