Restaurant IJver is located in the heart of the NDSM wharf, the former harbour of Amsterdam. The designers were inspired by Brutalism, aiming to bridge the industrial history of the shipyard with the new restaurant. This was translated through the use of concrete and by enhancing the raw, industrial character of the space. The restaurant’s theme is based on the proletariat, while Julia contribution was specifically inspired by the underground metro stations of Moscow and Kyiv, designed as subterranean “palaces for the people.”
For the bar, Julia experimented with different moulds to achieve the desired texture and finish in concrete. She also designed the price boards, drawing inspiration from the typography and signage of the Russian metro system. This interplay of materials, form and typography contributes to the industrial yet narrative-driven identity of the space.
