We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Alexander Yonchev ("AY").
For Simple Architecture the simplicity of decisions and shapes reflects a more global philosophy of life. One that every person of the team shares and applies in every activity they undertake: deeply understanding a given task, extracting and synthesizing the most important information, and transforming it into a simple final result. Thus, reaching simplicity is an extremely complex process. However, Simple Architecture's team believes that exactly by achieving simplicity, one can reach the real nature of beauty.
Alexander Yonchev Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Alexander Yonchev.
Alexander Yonchev Design - Villa Bianca Private House
Designer Interview of Alexander Yonchev:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
AY : My desire to become an architect was shaped by several factors throughout my childhood. When I was at school I used to live next to the University of Architecture in Sofia. I was always intrigued by the students carefully carrying their architectural models and drawings. It was at that time that I realised how interesting architecture could be. I have been drawing since I was a little kid, and that also helped me to confirm my interest in architecture. Last but not least, as a kid I was part of a choir, and during that time we performed in various opera houses, concert halls, on the radios and on TV shows. I was always intrigued by how people changed when they entered such spaces. It was then that I realised architecture has a direct impact on our feelings.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
AY : Simple Architecture was founded in 2017. The studio mainly works on architecture and interior design projects. The practice's philosophy is centred around clean, minimalist shapes and the reduction of details and materials, providing an antidote to the chaotic, oversaturated, consumerist contemporary world. At Simple Architecture, we work in an artist-like approach, meaning we demand full freedom of artistic expression from our clients while respecting their practical, financial and time requirements.
DI: What is "design" for you?
AY : 'Design' is thinking about ordinary things in an extraordinary way.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
AY : I love designing private houses because they represent the archetype of all human architecture. History also shows us that houses are usually the type of project that changes the world of architecture, setting trends and exploring innovations.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
AY : I am deeply attached to each of our designs, because I put all my heart and extremely hard work for every one of them. Making architecture and design that reflects one’s true beliefs is rather emotional, and therefore I like all my designs, although some are more successful than others.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
AY : The first piece of furniture I designed was a wooden table for an Italian brand. It was an open competition that I entered as a student, but I didn’t win. However, I enjoyed the process a lot and also learnt a lot from it.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
AY : My favourite material is, without a doubt, concrete. I love how primitive it is, it somehow connects us to our ancestors. The way of doing it and pouring it reminds me of bird's nests, so I see a very natural spirit in this material. Of course, it also has many technical advantages: it can be poured in any shape; it inherits the texture of the framework; it can be smooth or rough; it can be grey, white, or coloured. A material like this gives creators so much freedom of expression.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
AY : I need to be in the right mood to access my maximum creativity. I like to be alone and in silence. Given my lifestyle and dynamic workdays, I usually find time in the evening.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
AY : I believe that a design should scream "purposeful" for every element and aspect of a project. I am very invested in the conceptual process, and I am fanatical about finding the one and only solution for every detail. Ultimately, I aim for a final result that is like an individual creature or a parallel world that has its own rules and makes no exception to them.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
AY : I have experienced the full range of human emotions: happiness, sadness, excitement, frustration, annoyance, curiosity, and many more. Looking back at my work, this is one of the aspects that I like most about being an architect.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
AY : At first, I feel anxious about whether the final result will meet my expectations. Then, if everything goes well, I feel a deep sense of relief, and I feel happy, satisfied, accomplished and, somehow proud.
DI: What makes a design successful?
AY : One thing they don’t teach you at university is that successful design isn’t just about creating a great project; it's also about realising a good project. Things don’t end in the office. The struggle during the project phase is even greater during the realisation stage because you have to deal with so many people and so many problems and complications. There is some kind of art in resolving all these issues and achieving a final result that maintains the high quality.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
AY : Whether it’s consistent or not. I believe in what Mies van der Rohe said: 'Architecture is a language, and you have to learn the grammar in order to speak.' So, in every project, there has to be a certain language and set of rules that make the project possible. I like it when I see that the entire project has been respectful of those rules.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
AY : I believe that a designer should do his work consciously and with certain philosophy and principles. If he does, he becomes an example for society and for all the people who work other jobs and don't have the expertise in our field. The best example is a personal one.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
AY : I think we are living in very eclectic times, when new things are being created every day. These times are exciting because everything is changing, but they are also chaotic. I believe that, in the future, design will reach a more stable state when people have had enough of all the weird experiments and look for a more consistent, harmonious design world.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
AY : Our last exhibition was held at the Bulgarian Chamber of Architects. The occasion was another award won by Simple Architecture. In the future, I would love to exhibit alongside the biggest names in architecture, for example at the architectural Biennale di Venezia.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
AY : My inspiration comes from an image of the world in the future. I have this image in my mind where architecture and design would really follow human evolution, creating a world of cleanliness and intelligence, a world of extremely high performance and consciousness.
DI: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
AY : The most banal term for what I do is 'minimalism'. I try to avoid that word because it has become too fashionable and people tend to use it everywhere nowadays, which makes true minimalism really difficult to find. I like simple geometry; I think it has a deep connection to the universe and represents the way the human brain works. I keep this in mind when approaching every project.
DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
AY : I live in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. The context here is rather chaotic and eclectic, which motivates me a lot when I'm designing, as I want to compensate for the mess created by others as much as possible. I believe that if I lived in a more harmonious place, I would not be so motivated or radical in my approach.
DI: How do you work with companies?
AY : At Simple Architecture, we don't limit ourselves to working on one or two types of projects. We are extremely flexible, and as a result, we work with companies on all types of projects.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
AY : I truly believe that a company should analyse the designer very well, especially when it comes to philosophy. They both need to be on the same page and share similar values. Only then can a collaboration be truly successful.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
AY : We always start with sketches and schemes. We analyse the site and the project's requirements, budget and deadlines. It’s a very messy and definitely non-linear process. Once we have a better understanding of these factors, we can start exploring ways to bring some abstract ideas and concepts to life. Then we draw, we make physical study models, we create 3D models and we use all the tools at our disposal to explore as much of the project as possible. Once we know exactly what we want to do, we start working in more depth with technical drawings and details.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
AY : I would say that my most valuable possessions are my books. I have a growing collection of books on architecture and design, and to me these are priceless. Books contain true knowledge.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
AY : My day is very dynamic. I go to the office early, have meetings with clients, colleagues, construction companies, etc. I check in with my team to make sure everything is going well with their work. When all of that is finished, I take some time to sketch new ideas and refine new projects. In the evening, I already feel very tired, but I still manage to spend some relaxing time with my wife and my son.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
AY : My most important advice for young designers is to find themselves. They need to analyse themselves to identify the moments when they experience unusual excitement about their work, as this is their true direction. A young artist needs to be extremely passionate about their work; otherwise, over time, their love for the profession will evaporate and it will become just an ordinary job.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
AY : The downside is that you become aware of all the problems in the world, as well as all the areas of design and architecture that could be improved. This can sometimes feel overwhelming. The positive is that you can use your work to make improvements and create an impact.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
AY : Consistency at every level: from the abstract concept to the smallest technical detail.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
AY : As a designer, I believe you should be very versatile. You should be able to interact with people from all kinds of backgrounds and social groups — sometimes in the very same day. So, be a good listener, be diplomatic and know when and how to speak, as well as how to bring all those people together around the one idea you are trying to achieve.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
AY : Books play a major part in my design process. I find valuable knowledge in them about matters that I am currently dealing with, and they save me a lot of time that I would otherwise spend finding everything out by myself. Alongside books, I always have a roll of transparent paper, pencils and markers. I usually create my concepts using only those tools. Once the desired direction has been determined, physical and digital models are used to support the later stages of the process.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
AY : Time management is challenging. You always want more time, but you never have it. So organisation is key: you need to be really honest with yourself when asking how much time you would need for each task. Being honest with yourself helps you avoid problems when the deadline approaches.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
AY : The time required varies depending on the type of project. Of course, smaller projects take less time than bigger, more complex ones. On average, a house can take between four and six months, but this is highly subjective.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
AY : Why minimalism?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
AY : Before starting my own studio, I worked in several others. All experience is valuable when you are young because you have the whole world ahead of you, but very little knowledge of how to handle it.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
AY : Our clients are very intelligent people who have very interesting stories and backgrounds. What they all have in common is they all envision a different, better world.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
AY : I really enjoy doing projects for private houses because they raise almost all the questions in architecture. They are therefore always a very good mental exercise.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
AY : I am always looking for ways to expand the studio and open it up to new opportunities and clients. Our style and approach are international and focus on human nature rather than specific culture, so I would like to see our designs all over the world.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
AY : At Simple Architecture, I am responsible for all the architectural designs, while my wife Monica is the managing partner and chief of the interior design department. Of course, we could not handle all the work by ourselves, so we highly value our team of young and talented architects and designers.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
AY : We have several ongoing projects that would be really interesting and I would love to share more information about them once they are finished.
DI: How can people contact you?
AY : People usually contact us by email, social media or telephone. Clients prefer direct contact, and we are very flexible in this respect, trying to find the most convenient communication method for them.
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
AY : I think I gave a rather broad overview of the work we do at Simple Architecture, but I'm always available to answer any additional questions.