We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Hosein Ebrahimzade ("HE").
Hossein Ebrahimzade is an architect and poet who started his professional activities in 2008 with architectural research in Pagerd magazine, and then in 2012, he continued his activity as an architect and executive project planner with the establishment of Pi Architects. In 2023, at the same time as he finished his work in Pi, he founded MAN Office in order to start a new approach as an architect and poet. "MAN" is the product of thinking about the haiku of the Japanese poet Goichi Imase. split the snow split the stone And standing cherry tree
Hosein Ebrahimzade Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Hosein Ebrahimzade.
Hosein Ebrahimzade Design - 16 The Moment Residential
Designer Interview of Hosein Ebrahimzade:
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?
HE : Experiencing life on its own introduces one to the concept of art, which is experiential. I had no intention of seeking a title; it just happened.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
HE : Our office is the product of an experiential process. As I mentioned before, this office was initially established in collaboration with another person under the name Pi Architects. In 'Pi,' we collaborated with an individual in the field of execution who is no longer with us. Naturally, our perspective on projects and work has changed. The MAN office focuses on narratives that are constantly evolving. It does not have a fixed and specific form and adapts its perspective based on changing conditions.
DI: What is "design" for you?
HE : My definition of design is to pose a question with a paradox, without seeking an answer to that paradox. You should be able to place these two opposites side by side.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
HE : I am particularly interested in spaces that have the capacity for habitation.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
HE : There is no single favorite when it comes to design. Design does not take on a fixed form or shape.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
HE : I am interested in all natural materials and avoid plastic. All technologies are fascinating to me as well.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
HE : This is not time-bound and is not dependent on any specific state. I feel like I am doing my best work when my inner forces become more important than the external ones.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
HE : Program and harmony.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
HE : Fear and love.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
HE : Again fear and love.
DI: What makes a design successful?
HE : I'm not sure if the word "successful" applies here or not. Designs don't become successful, they only come into being; it's enough that they exist. If the intention is immortality, it's better to refer to “The Timeless Way of Building” by Christopher Alexander.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
HE : Judging a work solely based on its claims is possible. If it contradicts its claims, it is not a good design.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
HE : Avoiding Negligence
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
HE : I believe design will be heavily influenced by AI, but this does not imply a change in the essence of design.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
HE : I won't have an exhibition.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
HE : Mostly literature, poetry, film, and individual experiences.
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?
HE : One of the most fundamental concepts in design is to be without a specific style. An essential principle in design is to accurately perceive what the object itself intends to be and represent, and this is not style-dependent.
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?
HE : We live in Iran, and we have a rich cultural heritage. We pay attention to various aspects of cultural heritage. I have dedicated time to studying some of them and observed others in both cultural and architectural domains. These serve as valuable resources for nurturing certain experiences and ideas in art. The most significant aspect of our cultural heritage in Iran is poetry. I believe poetry aligns with what Mies van der Rohe suggests - architecture is a language, and anyone who masters it becomes a poet, forging connections.
DI: How do you work with companies?
HE : We usually collaborate with companies that are similar to us and have the least amount of conflict.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
HE : A dialogue with a committed designer assumes that the product is not important to a designer; the journey is important. In the experience of conversing with a committed designer and artist, we can experience many benefits.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
HE : I begin with observation, continue with observation, and conclude with observation. This means that I don't adhere to a specific method for tasks; I experiment with various approaches, but the fundamental principle of my work is to strive for the highest level of observance possible.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
HE : I am still young and experiencing.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
HE : In my opinion, merely having a title, profession, or job carries neither advantages nor disadvantages, and it depends on how we perceive it.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
HE : Self-focus.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
HE : Communication skills and maintaining active attention.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
HE : I focus on films and daily communication and I use SketchUp for software-related tasks.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
HE : I have a daughter, and when I play with her, I'm also working. For me, this scheduling isn't about sitting at a computer system or completing a specific process.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
HE : Is this good?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
HE : One of the features of working and living this way is that preferential traits and “the most” don't carry meaning. I work in a manner that values don't constantly shift and aren't juxtaposed against each other.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
HE : Either, people we've become friends with or friends we've worked with.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
HE : I like Peter Zumthor because he sees things as they are. The people who have succeeded in establishing a two-way relationship with things have inspired me in this regard. Those who understand both affect things, and things also influence them.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
HE : I need to see what opportunities lie ahead for me.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
HE : Yes, I think this project is the result of a new way of thinking that has emerged within me. In my opinion, work is different from a job, and now I believe that I have spent years engaged in work rather than a job, and realizing this has been one of my fortunes.
DI: How can people contact you?
HE : You can get in touch with MAN Office via Instagram(@manarchitects), LinkedIn(manoffice), email(pr@manoffice.org), or our website(https://manoffice.ir).
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
HE : No, Thank you.