Olenka Kids is a dedicated play and rest zone designed for children inside Olenka Coffee in Ankara's Eryaman. The aim of the project was simple but strong: create a space where children can safely and joyfully spend time so parents can drink their coffee in peace.
Why a Children's Area?
Eryaman has one of Ankara's densest young-family populations. For a café in this area to be a truly "living" space, it had to offer a layout where families with children could also be comfortable. While most venues treat children as a "problem" and exclude them, Olenka did the opposite: it placed the children's area at the centre of design.
Safety and Aesthetic Balance
The children's area is designed to stay in harmony with the café's overall Mediterranean aesthetic — the same soft colour palette, preference for natural materials and open layout. But every detail was rethought to children's scale and safety: rounded corners, non-slip surfaces, accessible play items and a clear layout that preserves the parent's line of sight from their seat.
Colourful but Not Excessive
Children's spaces are often overwhelmed with too much colour and character. At Olenka Kids, balance was paramount: an atmosphere that nourishes a child's imagination, playful but not at odds with the café's sophisticated language. Natural wooden play items, soft textile textures and controlled colour accents were used together.
Outcome
Olenka Kids became the distinguishing element that turned the venue into a meeting point families consistently choose to return to. It's an example of how a well-designed children's area can directly contribute to the commercial success of a café.
