The warmth of wood-effect porcelain stoneware in retail spaces
In Kyiv, XIT Mall combines contemporary architecture with welcoming interiors. Completed in 2021, the project brings the natural appeal of wood to retail spaces through the Atelier collection by Ricchetti, selected for the flooring in the Juta and Cuoio shades, in the 20x120 cm format.
Located in a densely populated area of the Ukrainian capital and directly connected to the metro, the complex forms part of the neighbourhood’s daily life. Shops, restaurants and offices share a building whose overall design and interiors were developed by AVG Group. The designers’ stated aim was to create an environment that was both minimalist and welcoming, drawing on a Scandinavian aesthetic defined by simple lines and functional materials.
The flooring plays a key role in this balance, helping to shape the atmosphere of the interiors. Atelier recreates the grain of Italian walnut and wild walnut in porcelain stoneware, combining rich tonal variations with a lightly textured surface. The elongated format echoes the proportions of wooden planks and highlights the grain pattern, while the Juta and Cuoio shades offer two distinct colour interpretations of the wood effect.
Atelier is also used as wall cladding in the restrooms, bringing the grain and tonal variations of walnut to vertical surfaces. Wood-effect porcelain stoneware adds warmth to these spaces, maintaining visual continuity with the shopping centre’s flooring. This choice combines a welcoming atmosphere with the ease of cleaning and maintenance required in public spaces.
Visual appeal goes hand in hand with the demands of everyday use. In a shopping centre, flooring must withstand frequent foot traffic and regular cleaning. The stain resistance and ease of maintenance of Ricchetti surfaces therefore offer tangible benefits, alongside attention to detail and aesthetic quality.
The Atelier tiles used in the project were supplied by the retailer Galleria Porcellanato. At XIT Mall, their texture and natural appearance help create a retail environment that strikes a harmonious balance between functionality and visual comfort.