Kusto

Kusto is a comprehensive interior design project for a fish restaurant in Montenegro, named after the legendary ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau. The project centers on custom-fabricated furniture and kitchen installations created from solid timber, each piece designed as both functional seating and sculptural art. The work embodies the principle that furniture can transcend utility to become an immersive design experience.

The installation includes four custom sofas ranging from 5 to 7 meters in length, complemented by a 10-meter open kitchen counter. All elements are crafted from solid glued timber with a distinctive finish evoking weathered driftwood retrieved from the sea floor—a material transformation that honors the restaurant's marine theme while introducing biomorphic forms. The execution demanded extensive preparation and production work, executed by craftspeople Sergei Nikolaev, Matvey Vavaev, Nikita Tkachenko, and Daniil Gumennikov.

The work demonstrates how bespoke furniture can define an entire space, transforming a restaurant interior into an art destination. By treating each piece as a sculptural object while maintaining its functional purpose, Kusto establishes a unified aesthetic language where form and function achieve perfect balance. The result is a venue where diners experience artistry not as decoration, but as the fundamental substance of their environment.