Shopping Center “OBROSHYN” is a new civic and commercial magnet in a rural context, designed for the residents of Obroshyn and nearby villages. Its core idea is to combine a technologically thoughtful space for providing commercial services with a hub that fosters social interaction — all while being respectful of the natural and social environment of the location.
The project merges simple volumes, expressive textures, and a delicate approach to context. The ground floor houses a supermarket and pharmacy — meeting essential daily needs without the need to travel to the city. The upper level is designed for flexible commercial use, with the possibility of a café featuring a terrace overlooking the village.
“OBROSHYN” Shopping Center is not about urbanizing the village — it’s about its growth and enrichment in a natural and comfortable way.
The “OBROSHYN” Shopping Center is located in the central part of the village of the same name, in Lviv Raion, Lviv Oblast. The site borders Mykhaila Hrushevskoho Street and the N13 highway connecting Lviv–Sambir–Uzhhorod. The territory is surrounded by detached housing, and the main pedestrian route of the village runs directly past the shopping center.
The master plan is based on well-thought-out pedestrian and vehicular circulation, with minimal intervention in the natural landscape. Two entrances to the building are provided for convenient access from different directions. Landscaping serves not only a decorative but also an integrative function, connecting the architecture with the natural environment.
The building includes an underground parking area, allowing the maximum surface space to be preserved for pedestrians, greenery, and community interaction.
The main challenges faced by the team:
- to create a contemporary shopping center within a rural context without causing a visual or cultural conflict;
- to ensure a high level of functionality while maintaining a restrained architectural form;
- to engage local residents in interaction with the building and with one another, rather than simply offering a space for consumer services.
The building’s aesthetic is based on principles of simplicity: clean volumes, a rich rhythmic façade texture, and a pastel color palette that doesn’t impose an urban style but instead resonates with the rural landscape. It reflects respect for the village’s visual identity while consciously avoiding kitsch.
Large glazed areas convey openness and commercial appeal. They not only provide natural lighting but also minimize the communication barrier between indoor and outdoor activity. The transparency of the façade creates a sense of trust, making the space feel accessible and welcoming even before one steps inside.
All spaces are designed to be inclusive. A spacious lobby and visually open zones invite interaction, accessibility, and a welcoming atmosphere. A distinctive feature of the lobby is the system of skylights integrated into the ceiling, which provide natural overhead lighting throughout the day. This fills the space with soft, diffused daylight, creating a calm, almost meditative atmosphere from the very first steps inside. This approach is not only aesthetic but also functional — it reduces the need for artificial lighting during the day and enhances the sense of connection to the natural surroundings.
A unique element of the design is a public sculpture in the shape of a four-leaf clover — a local symbol of luck and simple happiness that roots the building in its cultural context.
The project carefully considers the existing pedestrian flow of residents, integrating the building into their daily route. The landscaped areas in front of the façades serve both a decorative role and act as a buffer between commercial activity and pedestrian or vehicular movement. A wide variety of grasses and flowers native to the area are used throughout the design.
Project Team:
- Vitalii Kvych
- Nataliia Zubrytska
- Daria Ostrikova
- Maria Katalakh
- Volodymyr Yosypchuk
- Mariana Vikhot
- Kyrylo Starov
