Balbek Bureau wins global fame for offbeat design

One of Ukraine’s star architecture Balbek Bureau most famous projects is Kyiv Food Market, transformed from a former 18th-century-built military arsenal. For developing a design for the venue that brought together dozens of bars and restaurants under one roof, the bureau received an award in the commercial interior design category from the Architecture MasterPrize 2020.

A 19th century church in San Francisco had stood semi-abandoned for nearly 30 years before it recently reopened as an event hall. It was neglected and now it stuns with its beauty: a pipe organ under a high ceiling, massive arches and sofas in the aisles.
Such a transformation wouldn’t be possible without Ukrainian architecture and interior design studio Balbek Bureau, which redesigned the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church into a modern venue.

The church had been a place of worship since 1880, but the number of attendants was decreasing year after year and the church eventually closed in 1990. For the last 20 years, its semi-basement was used as school premises.