Zaļie Gurķi

June, 2024
Branding, Interior Design, Illustrations

Location: Cēsis, Latvija
Photography: Kristīne Kaminska

Zaļie Gurķi (i.e. Green Cucumbers) is a local cafeteria based in a small town called Cēsis.
This name comes from a Latvian saying about someone who is very young and inexperienced. It is often used to describe little kids who don't know much about life. The comparison to cucumbers highlights their "green" and unripe nature, symbolizing youth and inexperience.

Their story begins with a tradition of a local Latvian family and their passion towards hand made sweets and childhood memories. Located in the heart of the Old Town of Cēsis, Latvia, this kid’s cafe is a tasteful and family-friendly environment that brings joy and memorable experiences.

Our goal was to evoke childhood memories. Using illustrated character designs I created a joyful identity that goes hand in hand with a minimal interior that was designed and also partly crafted by me. Creating a custom cafeteria counter was a very challenging task due to irregular measurements and few difficult angles for decorative profiles.
It was so exciting to see the whole place transform and become warm as a cup of tea.