Project name: Kamnevedy
Interior design: Sinitsa Buro
Project Lead: Daria Kraynova
Lead Architects: Serafima Demidova, Anastasia Emelyanova
Location: Moscow
Photo: Dmitry Suvorov
Year: 2025
Project description from design firms Kamnevedy
We joined the project when construction was already underway, and the space turned out to be narrow, complex, with a low-ceiling basement.
The client is a geologist and traveler who has built an entire community of mineral enthusiasts around him.
The brief called for exposed vaults, a soft floor, carefully planned lighting, and a complete absence of museum-like heaviness.
We created a contrast: a light, open first floor and a dark “cave-like” basement for the most valuable exhibits.
We had to design reinforced shelving—some stones weigh up to 150 kg.
The most successful solution became the rhythmic structure of the display cases and a card-catalog wall that turned a “dead” corner into the focal point of the space.
When we came on board, construction was already in progress: demolition was underway, contractors were on site, and we had to keep adjusting drawings in real time. It was one of those projects where we said: never again like this.
We were captivated by the historic fabric—an incredibly beautiful showcase window, original brickwork, vaulted ceilings. At the same time, the space itself was challenging: two levels, narrow layouts, and low ceilings in the basement. Everything demanded extremely careful, almost jewelry-like precision.
The client is a true devotee of his field, a trained geologist. He organizes expeditions to remote parts of the world in search of unique minerals, meteorites, and fossils.
An active community has formed around him: people travel on expeditions together, attend lectures, meet up, and explore this fascinating world of stones.
For them, the store became more than a point of sale—it’s a place to meet, exchange experience, and immerse themselves in the subject.
The company already had stores and understood their operational сценарий well—along with what worked and what didn’t. There were several clear requirements:
- Keep the ceiling exposed, with vaults and brick.
- Use a soft floor finish so stones won’t shatter if dropped — in the end we chose marmoleum.
- Create an area for selecting and presenting small stones.
- Develop lighting—absolutely critical for showcasing minerals.
- Avoid a museum feel: the interior needed to be contemporary and alive, functioning as a backdrop.
There were almost no references: the client had vast experience with minerals, but not with interior design. So we built the visual concept almost from scratch, moving forward—as we usually do—through a series of options.
We explored several directions—from brutal metal-heavy schemes to deep, dark ones.
In the end, we built the interior around a contrast of two worlds:
- First floor — bright, monochrome, open, and “for everyone,”
- Basement — dark, intimate, almost “cave-like,” where the treasures are kept.
The dark basement, in fact, was the client’s personal choice—he feels more comfortable working in a secluded, deeper atmosphere.
The store carries more than 500 items—from large minerals to small specimens. Some are under glass, some are open. The maximum load per shelf in Kamnevedy is up to 75 kg.
We designed a clear system:
- a strict rhythm of display cases and shelving,
- multiple display formats,
- a monochrome backdrop so nothing competes with the stone’s texture.
One of the challenges was weight: large exhibits can weigh 100–150 kg. We developed reinforced shelves together with furniture engineers. One piece was so heavy that during the photoshoot it couldn’t be moved—doing so would have required several movers.
- Flooring — marmoleum; we used it as the baseline when choosing furniture color.
- Furniture — painted MDF, including the fronts.
- The basement has almost no added finishes — the space itself creates the right atmosphere.
Stairs — tile.
We especially like how the first floor works: the rhythmic structure of the display cases, the mix of large and small modules, the careful handling of the background. Most of all—the large in-floor card catalog with small compartments. It turned a “dead” corner into the center of the entire composition.
The contrast between the light upper level and the dark lower level also became a strong conceptual decision.
The lower level balances premium feel with functionality and a distinctive lighting atmosphere—which we also love—along with the fact that the space can easily transform into a lecture hall.
As on any construction site, there was no shortage of drama.
There were moments when elements had to be dismantled and rebuilt because they were offset from the wall by a couple of millimeters. We walked the site in the evenings with a lightbulb, approving shades.
The client and builders got so carried away with demolition that we urgently had to call in contractors to reinforce openings with a metal frame. Later, to keep it invisible in the interior, we had to box it in with gypsum board.
Furniture installation took almost three months: a huge number of small tweaks, the client leaving and returning, budget-related pauses…
As the saying goes: there’s no laughter on a construction site—only tears. But if you look at it like stand-up, it gets easier.
Minerals are usually presented either in an ultra-museum setting or in chaotic display cases.
We created a bold, contemporary interior that:
- works as a backdrop,
- emphasizes the value of the exhibits,
- brings people together,
- builds a cultural space around the brand.
In essence, it’s not just a shop, but a carefully designed experience of immersing yourself in the world of minerals.
