SMALL BUT MIGHTY

This Kyiv apartment – renovated during the war and a symbol of the resilience of the human spirit – is nothing less than a triumph

- Pip Rich

LIVING AREA

A beautiful bespoke piece of joinery divides this room and the kitchen, and it offers display and storage space and a place for the TV.

Custom joinery, Mirzoyan Studio. Sofa, Delavega. Blink carpet, Zuiver. Slit coffee table, Hay. Tung side table, &Tradition. Artwork by Alexander Kryzhanovskyi. Verner Panton flowerpot lamp, &Tradition

KITCHEN

The streamlined nature of the units helps them blend into the apartment’s open-plan living space.

Custom kitchen, Mirzoyan Studio. Walls and cabinets in NCS S 1505 Y20R, Avace

At the time of renovation, and of this interview, the war in Ukraine was ongoing - we all hope it has finished by the time you’re reading this. But the threats to life and constant disruption didn’t stop the Kyiv-based designer Nastia Mirzoyan’s desire to create a calming space. ‘We faced challenges due to regular power cuts, missile attacks and air raids,’ Nastia says. ‘Sometimes builders could not come to the site, and sometimes they came and sat in a shelter for hours. There were times when construction was halted for months, and the budget was cut in half. Despite this, we focused on delivering the project as planned, working flexibly within the constraints.’