BIO MY BIO café
Year: 2020
Location: Saint-Petersbur, Russia
Photos by: Sergey Melnikov
Area: 304м2
Bio My Bio is much more than just a café. This is Matilda Shnurova's new project which represents
a hybrid of a restaurant and an art object dedicated to the growing awareness of today.
a hybrid of a restaurant and an art object dedicated to the growing awareness of today.
INSPIRATION
The restaurant concept was inspired by the projects that involve light coloristics and a foliage pattern
play.
play.
This includes the light installations by James Turrell which inspired rapper Drake
to create the scenery
for one of his most popular music videos, and the compositions by Olafur Eliasson that bring
together art, science and natural phenomena.
for one of his most popular music videos, and the compositions by Olafur Eliasson that bring
together art, science and natural phenomena.
As for the floral motifs, they were inspired by GUCCI campaigns and numerous paintings of
flowers by Jonas Wood, a contemporary American artist.
flowers by Jonas Wood, a contemporary American artist.
The result of mix of these reference motifs is a space-embodied voluminous foliage pattern in the
form of huge leaves that the restaurant hall decorated with. When entering the venue, guests get
immersed into a totally surreal atmosphere which can at times evoke a feeling of fairy-tale-like
unreality of everything around them. Visitors may feel being conveyed to the Thumbelina tale,
which is prompted by one of the numerous Easter eggs veiled as part of the project.
form of huge leaves that the restaurant hall decorated with. When entering the venue, guests get
immersed into a totally surreal atmosphere which can at times evoke a feeling of fairy-tale-like
unreality of everything around them. Visitors may feel being conveyed to the Thumbelina tale,
which is prompted by one of the numerous Easter eggs veiled as part of the project.
CONCEPT
THEN
NOW
The leaves were created by the Mariinsky Theatre's decorators – people who see fairy
tales as a second reality. Owing to the designer-created art objects, the restaurant has gained a high
popularity on Instagram, which is highly important for such audacious projects as Bio My Bio.
tales as a second reality. Owing to the designer-created art objects, the restaurant has gained a high
popularity on Instagram, which is highly important for such audacious projects as Bio My Bio.
The idea of environmental friendliness that we have introduced into the interior is not constrained
to reusing a certain amount of plastic. The more important idea for us was to popularize the
concept of reusing and recycling through creating an example demonstrating that this can be
incredibly beautiful.
to reusing a certain amount of plastic. The more important idea for us was to popularize the
concept of reusing and recycling through creating an example demonstrating that this can be
incredibly beautiful.
The second important aspect of the project was light coloristics. Originally, all the walls in the
restaurant are light grey and neutral. The varicoloured backlighting envelops the entire space and
transforms it according to the desired mood.
restaurant are light grey and neutral. The varicoloured backlighting envelops the entire space and
transforms it according to the desired mood.
The dimmable coloured light is reminiscent of a modern art museum or of Kanye West's music
studio.
studio.
As a result, we created an utopia together with Matilda, a fascinating fairy tale and an environmental
manifesto.
manifesto.
In the issue of this collaboration, we managed to create not just an interior within the available
space, but an unparalleled visual attraction that captivates a visitor with any contemplated detail
and serves as a perfect embodiment of the conceptual design of the venue and its cuisine.
space, but an unparalleled visual attraction that captivates a visitor with any contemplated detail
and serves as a perfect embodiment of the conceptual design of the venue and its cuisine.
The idea of environmental friendliness that we have introduced into the interior is not constrained
to reusing a certain amount of plastic. The more important idea for us was to popularize the
concept of reusing and recycling through creating an example demonstrating that this can be
incredibly beautiful.
to reusing a certain amount of plastic. The more important idea for us was to popularize the
concept of reusing and recycling through creating an example demonstrating that this can be
incredibly beautiful.
The atmosphere within the project creation was vibrant all the way, absorbing in terms of its
complexity, vividity and entwinement of motives.
complexity, vividity and entwinement of motives.
The format of the restaurant is aimed at young people who follow the latest trends in nutrition and
healthy lifestyle. The menu is completely free of sugar, gluten and lactose - a challenging solution
for the restaurant industry. At the same time, the cuisine concept is delicious daily meals at a
reasonable price.
healthy lifestyle. The menu is completely free of sugar, gluten and lactose - a challenging solution
for the restaurant industry. At the same time, the cuisine concept is delicious daily meals at a
reasonable price.
FOOD
DRINKS
