MELT AWAY
GELATERIA
MELT AWAY
2024
TYPE
GELATERIA
LOCATION
ODESA, UKRAINE
AREA
42 M²
CLIENT
A passionate entrepreneur seeking a nostalgic yet dreamlike gelateria experience — a space that evokes childhood memories of ice cream in metal cups, infused with subtle, personal reinterpretation and retrofuturist charm.
TASK
To design a compact gelateria that balances evocative nostalgia with a playful, contemporary interior — creating a tactile, visually layered space suitable for both in-store seating and take-away service.
THE CONCEPT
This gelateria is a portal into memory and imagination. Inspired by the sensory experience of childhood ice cream cafes, the interior evokes fleeting déjà vu and soft flashbacks. A refined palette of pale beige-pink walls, delicate light gradients, and muted violet accents creates subtle, elusive color transitions. Retro-inspired elements — from the bar stools in vintage-looking eco-leather to the postmodernist ceiling installation of metal pipes with matte glass globes — work together to amplify the sense of nostalgia. Color-tinted mirrors, neon signage, and reflective surfaces softly echo light and color across the space, while high tables, small terrace seating, and cylindrical display shelves provide both functionality and charm. The result is a dreamy, immersive environment that feels simultaneously familiar and delightfully unreal.
LAYOUT
The L-shaped ice cream display counter, with its rounded corner clad in copper sheet, anchors the space, while horizontal cylindrical shelves elegantly display ice cream flavors. One wall features a vertical relief texture with the neon logo integrated, while the opposite one hosts three tables, each fitted into a mirrored arch.
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The existing facade remains untouched except for a small canopy concealing the air-conditioning unit, masked with mesh metal and topped with a luminous logo. The careful layering of subtle color gradients, reflections, retro elements, and fine neon detailing creates a rich, immersive experience that balances in-store enjoyment with efficient take-away service.