Shifting Sands

Form and materiality take centre stage at HPlace Cafeteria, a community coffee shop in Downtown Dubai, designed by Aleksey Klimov and Eugene Cherkas of Atelier Prototipi. Here, the desert’s codes are distilled into sculptural simplicity, resulting in a space with an architectural language informed by the rhythms of shifting sands and the fleeting glow of moonlight.

“Observing the lunar landscape among the dunes is one of the most impressive sights. If you listen closely, you can hear time flowing in the moving grains of endless waves and feel its breath,” Klimov reflects. It’s this almost meditative observation that became the conceptual bedrock of HPlace. The desert, after all, is an archive of time, its contours carved out by wind, sun and silence. The team at Atelier Prototipi sought to translate this cadence into an immersive environment, one that feels at once grounded and weightless, ancient and contemporary. Cherkas recalls the experience that shaped their approach: “We were sitting at the edge of the desert, watching the wind lift and sift the sand, grain by grain, as if reconsidering what shape it wanted to take. There’s no other place where time feels so tangible – it dissolves, slows down, merges with the monumental silhouettes of dunes. We found that the regional landscape isn’t just physical, it’s a play of sunlight and moonlight, shifting the boundaries of imagination.”

Wireflow chandelier by Vibia and a custom-made brass and marble coffee table

Inside HPlace, this philosophy materialises in smooth, oval contours that echo the forms humans have carved into desertscapes for centuries. The walls, finished in both raw and polished mineral plaster, capture a sense of erosion, the passing of time and the marks left by wind and water on stone. A balance is struck here between purposeful refinement and natural imperfection. Travertine blocks – some with a honed, velvety finish, others left deliberately rugged – anchor the space, forming the base of the hospitality zone and two sculptural bars. 

The stone forms are created in smooth and rough processing, mimicking the natural uneven surface of the stone, which gives a pleasant self-finished appearance. The lights are Cathode suspension lamps by Davide Groppi

Glass elements punctuate an earthy palette, most notably the Soda tables by Miniforms, which Cherkas suggests are a personal favourite: “The transparent glass forms capture and refract light, transforming into vessels that seem filled with liquid clarity,” he notes. This cool smoothness contrasts with the warmth of natural oak veneer, creamy bouclé upholstery and sandy quartz stone, materials chosen to echo the tonal shifts that move through the desert from dawn to dusk.

Entering HPlace feels like moving through a landscape sculpted by both human hands and natural forces. The spatial experience unfolds in layers: from the open hospitality area, guests are drawn into more intimate nooks tucked behind curved partitions. A softly illuminated staircase traces the gentle curve of a wall, leading to an elevated retreat where seating is arranged in cosy clusters. Through an aperture carved into what feels like a rock face, the view extends out to the terrace, connecting the interior and exterior realms.

Highlights and decorative lighting are created as an extension of the conceptual idea. Featuring the Noctambule floor lamp by Flos

The upper level offers relaxed lounging; featuring the Wirering wall lamp by Flos

By day, the terrace offers shade with greenery that filters through the sharp desert light. By night, panoramic glazing dissolves into darkness, and the interior takes on a distinct mood. “A standout feature for us is the Moon chandelier by Davide Groppi,” Klimov shares. “As evening falls, the Moon appears in space, enveloping the interior like the Earth’s satellite, slowly immersing it in a nocturnal cradle.”

Light is an active participant in the design narrative. It shifts with the day’s rhythm – subtle during the morning, dramatic at dusk, intimate after dark – casting shadows that stretch, soften and dissolve. The designers describe their process as an “experimental search”, an intuitive structuring of ideas, fragments and inspirations that coalesce into a powerful, emotionally resonant environment.

Photography by Lizaveta Kulenenok

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