YOD Design Lab characterises Kyiv’s South Station with an exciting Asian essence

Have a craving for Chinese? Ukraine’s capital city gets an Asian touch with China Ma—a contemporary new restaurant where the people’s hearts are as warm as the tea! Situated opposite the Kyiv South Station Shopping centre, the outlet offers Cantonese fare, which brings together the best dishes from eight Chinese cuisines, combined with a collection of 25 rare tea varieties. With a lively atmosphere of oriental markets, the design takes inspiration from the original aesthetics and the chaos of branched cobweb telecommunication wires that define the streets of China and Thailand.

The most captivating feature of this space is the dynamic love installation on the wall between the floors. The art depicts the face of an Asian girl on a rounded LED screen and broadcasts a video of emotions. Complemented by decorative elements, the floors are harmonised by a small glass bridge on the second floor that adds to the adrenaline factor of the guests. Upon entering the restaurant, the designers create an eye stopper in the form of a media tube that passes through the interior facade wall and broadcasts Chinese messaging. Given the location, in order to craft a functional eatery that serves delicious Asian fare, the space has a separate area for suitcases, to cater to people who are passing through the city, on their way to other destinations. With dynamic gastronomy, China Ma takes a firm position in the niche of superlative Asian outposts.