Grunwaldzka 67, Wrocław
49m
PHOTO
Migdał Studio
ID:
HART Studio
The restaurant project in Łódź was created in a historic townhouse on Piotrkowska Street. The two-level interior, inspired by Asian cuisine, was designed to preserve the character of the historic space while creating a unique, contemporary atmosphere based on materials, details, and light. The main goal of the project was to create a restaurant inspired by Asian cuisine, but without tying it to any one specific region—instead of a literal interpretation, we focused on creativity and building an atmosphere. Equally important was harnessing the potential of the historic townhouse on Piotrkowska Street. We drew inspiration from Asian aesthetics in the broadest sense, though treated in a non-obvious and non-literal way. The theatricality of the space was also a key consideration—building tension through light, color, and the sequence of movement through the interior.
The UKOI brand was created in response to the need for a space inspired by Asia, but without literal references to any single country. The name “UKOI” was chosen for its Asian-sounding quality, yet at the same time for its simplicity and ease of recognition for Polish customers. The name itself evokes associations with comfort, calm, and satisfaction—exactly the emotions the restaurant and the experience of dining there were meant to evoke. A distinctive detail is the dot above the letter “i,” designed in the shape of a bowl alluding to Asian cuisine. This motif later served as the basis for creating further elements of the brand identity system, including signage and logo variations. The design also featured a “brand hero”—a cat inspired by Asian symbols of good luck, inviting guests inside. This motif was used not only in the visual identity but also in the interiors, including a custom-designed wallpaper.
