MILK Lodowe Bistro In Łódź / Hanna Pietras Architects

Architects: Hanna Pietras Architects
Area: 50 m²
Year: 2024
Photography: Mood Authors
Design: Hanna Pietras, Anna Petrova, Małgorzata Kowalczyk-Wiankowska
City: Łódź
Country: Poland

The MILK Lodowe Bistro in Łódź, designed by Hanna Pietras Architects, merges eclectic design with practical functionality, covering 50m² at its second location on 11 Pomorska Street. Consistent with the first shop, it introduces new creative elements inspired by vintage Italian ice cream parlors and Portuguese influences. The bold color palette of coral, navy blue, and brass adds vibrancy, while the space is designed to handle high customer volume, ensuring both aesthetics and operational efficiency. Thoughtfully selected design elements, including distinctive furniture, create a unique, welcoming atmosphere, providing a memorable experience for visitors.

MILK Lodowe Bistro in Łódź / Hanna Pietras Architects

Good design is all about attention to detail. Whether it’s selecting the right materials, crafting furniture meticulously, or choosing accessories and lighting, detail is key.
Interview with Hanna Pietras of Hanna Pietras Architects

In recent years, Łódź has seen its culinary scene expand beyond the well-known Piotrkowska Street and Manufaktura, and MILK Lodowe Bistro has become one of the standout establishments. Its first, smaller location on Nawrot Street quickly gained popularity for its innovative ice cream offerings. Recognizing the consistent demand, the owners decided to open a second location at 11 Pomorska Street, bringing in Hanna Pietras Architects to design the new space.

Designing an ice cream parlor differs significantly from residential interiors, requiring a focus on high traffic and durability. As Hanna Pietras explains, “Unlike designing a home, commercial spaces must accommodate dozens or even hundreds of visitors per hour. This impacts everything from material choices to layout, ensuring the space is both durable and functional.” The high volume of customers directly influenced the selection of sturdy materials and efficient design solutions for the bistro.

Artistic Interior

Hanna Pietras and her design team—Anna Petrova and Małgorzata Kowalczyk-Wiankowska—are known for their love of bold colors and eclectic style combinations, and this project is no exception. The bistro’s interior features a lively mix of broken white, navy blue, coral, and brass accents, reflecting both cheerfulness and modernity. These design elements maintain harmony with the first location on Nawrot Street, creating a cohesive identity across both spaces.

“The investor had clear preferences based on the original location, but we were given the freedom to introduce fresh elements,” Pietras said. This allowed for creative new design solutions while ensuring the continuity of the brand’s aesthetic. The result is a space that not only meets the owner’s expectations but also offers an inviting, memorable environment that stands out in Łódź’s culinary scene.

A semi-transparent fluted glass wall separates the backroom from the main seating area, allowing natural light to flow while keeping the space open and airy. The compact seating area features small tables, designed with minimalism and aesthetic simplicity in mind. In contrast to many eateries, the bistro avoids cluttered wall menus, instead focusing on a clean graphic presentation of its offerings, further enhancing its contemporary appeal.

Southern Inspiration

The design takes inspiration from two primary sources: vintage Italian ice cream parlors and Portuguese design accents. The challenge lay in combining these influences while ensuring the space remained practical for both customers and employees. Pietras noted that “the interior had to merge the Italian soul with the Portuguese heart,” emphasizing that functionality had to be balanced with aesthetics to create a welcoming and efficient environment.

This project was particularly enjoyable for Pietras and her team, as MILK Lodowe Bistro is a personal favorite. Pietras remarked on the excitement of designing for a place she often visits, especially one known for its inventive and ever-changing ice cream flavors. “Every visit to MILK offers something new,” she said. “You never know what unique flavor combinations you’ll find, and having ice cream in a brioche is a personal favorite.”

While MILK impresses with its wide variety of flavors, the carefully designed interior ensures that the bistro’s space is just as memorable, offering a complete sensory experience that engages both the taste and the visual senses.