Ukrainian design brand RUDA Studio was founded in 2017 by Oleksandra Rudenko and Yuriy Vovnyanko. The studio seeks to make each project individual and special, focusing on feelings, custom items, and the combination of the historical and the modern. 'Our creations are inspired by natural materials and ancient craft techniques. Each product has its own function, but is more like an object of art that touches the soul. The vision of interior items encourage us to preserve and actualise our cultural heritage,' the brand explains.
The Roots of Home lighting collection is inspired by Ukrainian rooftops with black shingles.
Maison&Objet
'In our works, we restore knowledge about Ukrainian folklore, pay attention to socially important topics and focus on the interaction between humans and nature. In the studio, objects are created from local materials - brass, copper, clay, straw, algae, trees, and stone.' The brand recently presented their collections at Maison&Objet, among which the Roots of Home lighting collection.
Roots of Home
'Due to the war, many Ukrainians lost their homes and had to establish temporary residences. The Roots of Home collection bears an associative resemblance to an ancient Ukrainian hut, where the lampshade mimics a roof with terracing made of straw or shingles covered in the "tyruvannia" technique.' Tyr is an oil product extracted in the Carpathian Mountains, known for its high paraffin content. Due to this finishing process, the wooden roof plates acquire a black colour.
The Roots of Home collection consists of small and medium table lamps, as well as a floor lamp. The lamp top is crafted with a metal frame, homespun canvas, and dyed rye straw. The base takes the shape of a truncated cone and is intricately inlaid with dyed rye straw using marquetry techniques. 'The lamps feature a modern aesthetic, seamlessly blending into present-day interiors while being rooted in the ancient origins of our nation, both ideologically and stylistically.'
The Roots of Home floorlamp.
Solomia
Another piece, inspired by the wealth of Ukranian land is the Solomia cabinet. Combining vintage Art Deco style with the philosophy of contemporary Ukrainian design, the cabinet was crafted by the studio's founder and designer, Oleksandra Rudenko.
'Made from oak and adorned with ornaments from rye straw, the cabinet's origin lies in Western Ukraine. There, the 80-year-old grandfather, Orestes, collects straw for our products, carefully sorting them by length and diameter. During this process, the oak frame—the foundation of the cabinet—is created. The countertop undergoes stitching, revealing the texture of the wood. In our workshop, the straw undergoes a staining stage before being intricately inlaid into the cabinet itself.'
The Solomia cabinet.
More information:
RUDA Studio
Kanatna st, building 6
65016, Odesa, Ukraine
+38 093 842 43 87
[email protected]
www.ruda.com.ua