We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative kalbod studio ("KS").
During his years of activity, Mr. Mohammad Rahimizadeh, the founder and principal architect at Kalbod design studio, has designed various projects with a variety of uses and scales. To provide a contemporary alternative to traditional Iranian architecture, we, at Kalbod Design Studio try to respond accurately to challenges of the climatic, economic, political, social, and cultural conditions of each project. In addition to creativity and quality, the Kalbod studio knows the needs and limitations of its projects well and designs beyond nationalities and specialized disciplines, regardless of borders. These projects target atmospheric charisma, emotional urgency, and environmental sustainability already expressed in the design.
kalbod studio Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by kalbod studio.
kalbod studio Design - Seaside Town Urban Design
kalbod studio Design - Esfahan Knowledge Bridge
Designer Interview of kalbod studio:
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?
KS : My grandfather was the most important factor for me to become a designer. He was one of the most famous experimental architects in Iran who created many designs and I am always proud of him .
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
KS : Kalbod Design Studio is one of the subsets of Kalbod Construction Group, which works in the field of execution and design, I established it in 2016. During my years of activity, I have designed various projects with a variety of uses. With the aim of providing a contemporary alternative to traditional Iranian architecture, tries responding accurately to challenges of the climatic, economic, political, social and cultural conditions of each project. In addition to creativity and quality, the Kalbod studio knows the needs and limitations of its projects well and designs beyond nationalities and specialized disciplines, regardless of borders.
DI: What is "design" for you?
KS : Design is an inner feeling for me, a kind of deification and creation .Visualize and create something that did not exist is attractive .
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
KS : Building and object design has always been a priority, but any subject that has a specific challenge gives me the necessary motivation.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
KS : Conceptual and abstract design has always fascinated me, a kind of transcendent art. That is, the artist analyzes his project in different mental layers .
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
KS : The first thing I designed was a small building in an old neighborhood. Many conditions were not ready for the ideal design, but I did my best .
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
KS : Making with 3D printing technology has always been fascinating to me. It would be great if buildings could be built much larger and with this technology .
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
KS : It makes me feel really creative when the challenges of a project are solved .The human mind has the ability to look at and analyze even a fixed subject from thousands of different angles. This kind of creativity is formed .
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
KS : I think every project should have a scenario. The designer, like a director, portrays that scenario in the best way. We always focused a lot on the scenario .
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
KS : When I focus on a project, I feel suspended in space A kind of movement in time and place .All five senses are involved in this situation and creativity is at its peak .
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
KS : Designing gives me a sense of power. I find it fascinating that you can create something . I am always proud of the way we think after my designs are spread . .
DI: What makes a design successful?
KS : It does not have a specific rule. Many times the designer thinks that the design should be much more successful, but it is not. In my opinion, the most important criteria is the designer's experience and thinking.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
KS : I would consider a design good if the designer have been successful in meeting the needs of the building and overcoming its challenges.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
KS : In my opinion, the designer becomes a researcher, psychologist and sociologist over the years. The designer is introduced as an influential human being in the structure of human mind and taste.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
KS : The future of design in digital and meta-space will change drastically. The fewer the implementation restrictions and the higher the manufacturing technology are, the easier it will be for designers to realize their ideas.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
KS : Iran Building and Design Exhibition. We are trying to apply for the 2023 Dubai exhibition. . .
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
KS : Nature is always the most important source of inspiration for designers. I myself like the ideas of sculptors and for my source of inspiration I am interested in sculptors’ perspective in designing.
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?
KS : In my company, we try to see buildings as sculptures and ourselves as sculptors. The idea of relating spatial and functional applications in the context of an abstract scheme is very interesting.
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?
KS : I live in Tehran, Iran. We grew up here with a rich source of architecture and culture. Our traditional architecture has contributed significantly to the global growth and development of the designing industry over the years.
DI: How do you work with companies?
KS : We are in contact with world-class companies in various executive fields. We all know that even the best designs fail without a proper implementation.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
KS : I think the thinking path of a designer at different times is the best reason to choose a designer. A design that progresses and grows through step by step thinking definitely deserves to be selected.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
KS : We first try to have enough knowledge about the subject and examine all the challenges of the project, then we turn all the cases into a series of diagrams, and in the next step we turn these diagrams into etudes and initial designs. In the next step. We finalize and complete the project concept .
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
KS : Lighting objects - accessories - vases - chairs
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
KS : I am in the office every day at 8 am. Usually in the mornings we talk about the challenge of the projects with my colleagues and in the evening I inspect the projects. Various meetings with employers and executives are other topics in my daily routine. Lately, I also study and analyze the works of famous architects
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
KS : Of course, I am one of the young architects, but in architecture, I always tried to follow my own stream of thought .I have succeeded a little, but there is still a long way to go.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
KS : The most important thing for a designer is the independence of decision and choice. When external factors such as the employer interfere in the designer's work, the result can not be optimistic.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
KS : We think and study so much about the subject and concept to reach the maximum mental potential . Nothing will be sacrificed for quality.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
KS : The most important is the ability to visualize space and the power of space analysis, followed by aesthetic issues .Design is a set of abilities to visualize space and creativity and thinking .
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
KS : We definitely use software features such as modeling and planning software a lot. Apart from this, searching and researching and analyzing similar projects is very useful.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
KS : For me, quality is the most important issue in the studio. We spend as much time as necessary to achieve acceptable quality for the project. Another issue is project management and the timing of the designers who work on the project.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
KS : We work mostly in the field of building design, but a new object design department is set up in the studio where we try to create our own creative ideas and context.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
KS : How to solve spatial relationships and plans is the most important issue and concern of all designers and employers. And the next question most young architects ask is where to start.
DI: What was your most important job experience?
KS : In my opinion, how to interact with the employer has been the most important experience of my recent years There will be no project if the right cooperation between the designer and the employer is not formed.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
KS : Most of our clients are high standard of living employers who come to us to invest in their personal building or house. Large construction companies are also our employers . State-owned companies are also part of our employers.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
KS : The design of villas and houses is always attractive that you design the living environment of a family and think about all their daily needs and try to give the best answer to it.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
KS : We are developing studios in Dubai and Toronto. We strive to be an international collection with world standards . My effort is to be one of the top 10 architectural studios.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
KS : I am the manager of a group of 20 people where all the projects are done step by step by the whole team, but the main line of thought is always designed by me.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
KS : We are designing a concept island in Dubai, an island for 2040 .We tried to design according to the needs of the future man.
DI: How can people contact you?
KS : We can communicate through the site (kalbod.studio.com), email(kalboddesignstudio@gmail.com), Instagram(kalbod.studio) and phone (+989121432401) .
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
KS : Thank you for your time and attention to design . I hope that in the coming years we will talk about the successes we will achieve.