Above the Canyon waterfall-fountain in Krasnodar Park, designer Svetlana Andreeva-Shchepeteva of M.A.D. Interiors has created a public interior inspired by a forest. The project began with an unusual arrangement of concrete columns, which became the starting point for a colorful, retro-futuristic space filled with sculptural forms, patterned furniture, and references to nature
How Concrete Columns Became a Forest
When Andreeva-Shchepeteva first looked at the second-floor space, she noticed that the concrete columns were positioned at irregular intervals, almost like trees growing naturally from the ground. Instead of trying to disguise their arrangement, she developed a design concept around it. “If people walk among the columns as among trees, why shouldn’t this space become a fairy-tale forest?” she explains.
The columns now appear as oversized tree trunks, with glossy surfaces, rounded projections, and pointed details that give them different appearances. Some flare outward where they meet the ceiling, while others have smoother profiles. Together, they create the impression of walking through an unusual forest, with each column contributing to the overall design.
Inspired By Real Trees, But Designed To Look Futuristic
The inspiration for these sculptural columns came from several types of trees. Andreeva-Shchepeteva, who is based in Porto, Portugal, drew on the eucalyptus and plane trees she encounters there, along with palms and the ceiba tree that grows in Krasnodar Park itself.
However, the result is far removed from a traditional forest. Influenced by the retro-futuristic design of the 1960s and 1970s, the columns feature glossy finishes in shades of orange, red, and terracotta. According to the designer, some surfaces can even appear almost violet in daylight.
Curving light fixtures extend across the ceiling, passing between the columns and emphasizing the unusual shapes. Circular ceiling details and illuminated rings add to the futuristic appearance, while the repeated columns give the large interior a recognizable visual identity.
A Colorful Interior Overlooking The Park
The public space occupies more than 2,000 square meters (approximately 21,500 square feet) and follows a semicircular layout around the crater of the waterfall-fountain below. Visitors arrive through tube-like staircases before entering the expansive interior.
Large windows follow the curved exterior, offering views of the surrounding greenery. The relationship between indoors and outdoors is particularly interesting because the designer deliberately chose a warm, intensely colorful palette to contrast with the green landscape. The real trees remain visible outside, while their imaginative counterparts fill the interior.
African-Inspired Patterns, Sculptural Art, And Places To Gather
The forest concept extends beyond the columns. Seating areas are distributed throughout the interior, with curved sofas, upholstered chairs, and small tables creating places for visitors to gather among the sculptural supports. The furniture introduces another layer of color through a mix of stripes, circles, geometric patterns, and African textiles.
Art objects and decorative elements add further variety, including an oversized sculptural face surrounded by plants and red columns. Elsewhere, curved openings outlined with lighting, patterned partitions, and a rounded service counter continue the combination of organic forms and futuristic details.
What began as an irregular arrangement of concrete supports has become the defining idea for an entire public interior. The columns provide a visual link between the different seating areas, while the colors, lighting, plants, and artwork turn the surrounding space into a forest unlike the one visible through the windows.
