“DOTA 2 to the rhythm of esports”
Yaroslav Zadorozhnyi, architect, designer, founder of the INTA DESIGN studio:
“The main task of our interior is to help you tune in to winning.”
Can you do your job and enjoy every minute of it? Yes! Can you work with great people and enjoy them? Yes again! And these are not just words. Recently my team had the honour of designing for a legend of Ukrainian esports, a professional DOTA 2 player. His name is Andrii; he is young but already makes Ukraine famous all over the world. Just imagine: millions of guys on the planet play DOTA 2, and he — ours, Ukrainian, one of us! — is in the TOP 500 and still improving! And he lives in Chernihiv! Fantastic.
And this legend comes to us asking us to design an interior. Or rather — the first thing Andrii asked me was: “Have you played DOTA?” Have we played this game??! Woo-hoo! We love it! There were times in my life when I simply disappeared into it. It really is a cult game — not only for me but for my whole team. And from that moment I understood how much Andrii and I have in common: a love of everything progressive, of DOTA 2, of winning.
It is a pleasure to know that Andrii simply trusted us with everything. So we set ourselves the task of creating an interior close to his spirit: contemporary, minimalist and very, very clear. One that is like its owner — strong, active, with the will to win. In our work we reach such an understanding of the client that we know where and how he puts down his cup and what he always keeps at hand. Literally: he only has to reach out, and even with his eyes closed he will find what he needs!
Where did we start when we developed the idea? First of all, it had to be an open space with free zoning. That saves both space and the client’s money. It means lightness and air, a move away from the closed standard room — so that there is space around a person and nothing presses on him. That makes it easier to concentrate on the game.
The other functions were set along one axis. The game place lies on one axis with the kitchen and the sofa. This axis of symmetry gives the interior clarity and logic — but above all it singles out the main playing zone: the champion’s desk.
This is not just furniture, it is another dimension: entering it, you switch over; you feel the adrenaline rush into your blood and your heartbeat quicken as you pass from rest into the state of play. This drive and excitement is created by a cube of red edges around the desk. It is a place of victories and strength. And now you can see it.
We also thought the sleeping area through carefully. Here we use our favourite device, box in box. It sets apart a space for sleep where the athlete gets the best rest, and at the same time saves room in the overall area. Such a bedroom is not cluttered by the bed and works well for storage.
Why this way? The rhythm of esports today means that Andrii travels a great deal, and in this chaos his home must become a beacon of calm and order, a place where he can withdraw and relax. The sleeping area is very soft: wood, diffused lighting, a curtain. And of course, like everything here, it follows the concept of youthful minimalism. That means every detail is made of simple materials at a sensible price.
“Behind” the desk there is also a sofa from which you can watch and comment on the game — so the athlete’s friends will not be hanging over his shoulder. They are near, but not too close. The sofa is roomy too — it holds a team: five people plus a manager. It is double-sided: here it is comfortable to watch game replays and discuss strategy — a big monitor on the wall beside it, a large dining table by the sofa. Behind it is the kitchen, which is also completely minimalist.
The bathroom is simple and brutal, concrete at heart, with a large shower. On the washbasin — a little DOTA 2 reminder.
We used the game’s symbols sparingly, as if in passing. Behind the desk there is a stencil of the DOTA 2 logo made up of the phrases players write to each other during a game.
But the main task of the interior is not so much to be about gaming as to be light, to help recovery and to tune in to winning. We will be happy if in this way we can help a champion succeed. That will mean we have done our work well.
Let me add something personal: working on this interior was a great piece of luck; it really fired me up. I consider it happiness to make other people’s lives better through my work and to help them move forward. And we are rooting for Andrii and his success, whatever team he plays for.
With all my heart I wish our hero victory in the tournaments to come!
