Balbek Bureau is a Ukrainian architecture and interior design studio based in Kyiv, founded in 2018 by Slava Balbek and Borys Dorogov. With approximately 70 employees, they have established a reputation for adaptive reuse of historic buildings, cultural projects, and commercial spaces, both in Ukraine and internationally. The bureau’s portfolio includes over thirty bars and restaurants, several hotels, and major regeneration projects. Notable examples include the transformation of the 2,000 square meter military arsenal near Pechersk Fortress into the Kyiv Food Market and the design of offices for companies like Grammarly.
Since the onset of the Russian invasion in 2022, Balbek Bureau has pursued social initiatives such as RE:Ukraine—a series focused on humanitarian response and reconstruction. The RE:Ukraine program’s temporary housing system aims to provide dignified shelter for internally displaced people, and the RE:Ukraine Villages platform documents regional rural architectural styles, offering online tools for reconstructing village housing based on local traditions. The bureau’s team conducts field research to catalogue patterns across nine Ukrainian regions. These efforts intersect with advocacy for preserving Ukraine’s modernist and vernacular architecture, striving for practical revitalization rather than historical nostalgia.
Balbek Bureau’s work has earned international accolades, including multiple design awards, and their projects have been covered by top architecture media. Their commitment remains focused on practical solutions for communities, resilience in times of crisis, and integrating local identity into contemporary architectural practice.