Kiev Café
Kiev
TSEH Arhitectural Group
DESIGNER: TSEH Arhitectural Group BUILDER: TSEH Arhitectural Group BUILD DATE: 16th Aug 2017
LOCATION: Kiev, Ukraine PHOTO CREDITS: Mihail Cherny, Evgen Zuzovsky RATING: 4 Stars.
Unit Café is a standout example of adaptive, purpose-built cargotecture in an urban regeneration context. Developed by TSEH Architectural Group as part of a wider revitalisation initiative for a former industrial site in Kiev, this bold and vibrant café was never in the original masterplan. Yet, its spontaneous conception and execution have made it an iconic fixture in the rapidly growing Unit City tech campus.
Build Method
The structure is composed of fourteen shipping containers, including one positioned vertically to house a central staircase, which connects the interior spaces across two levels. The building was developed to address the lack of dining space in the newly repurposed IT School 'Unit Factory', located nearby. With no room left in the main school building for a canteen, the architects proposed a detached café built entirely from modular containers—a solution that aligned with the spirit of innovation permeating the district.
The ground floor accommodates the kitchen, lavatories, storage, and internal seating, while the first floor features an elevated terrace with generous views of the surrounding educational and business complexes. A standout feature is the cantilevered upper level, extending 7.5 metres beyond the footprint below, offering dynamic views and establishing the café as a bold visual landmark within the Unit City development.
Bright green accents connect the building’s exterior and interior palettes, and the upper floor continues this theme with indoor plants, lounge-style seating, and full-height glass openings. The design invites both relaxation and collaboration, becoming a space where students, residents, and professionals gather—not just to eat, but to share ideas and build community.
Interbode Thoughts
Unit Café is cargotecture as placemaking—a functional intervention that quickly became a social and architectural hub. We love how a secondary idea born from necessity evolved into one of the most recognisable structures in Unit City. The confident use of colour and cantilevering makes this a highly memorable build, but it’s the careful orchestration of public use, clever modular adaptation, and its strong identity within a wider urban scheme that really shines. A truly versatile container café, designed not just for coffee breaks—but for catalysing conversation.
KIEV UNIT CAFE DESIGNS
BUILD OR BUY
