boy·k·ott: CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE AT ITS FINEST

Atelier boy·k·ott is a practice that not only knows how to turn an investment idea into impressive architectural and interior reality – its team believes in the power of contemporary architecture to transform lives, bring about positive change and create memorable spaces and structures. The studio's founder and lead architect, Boyan Kostadinov, shares more about the studio's vision, understanding of architecture and how these translate into the projects in their portfolio.

What does contemporary architecture mean to you?

A few weeks ago, one of my students asked me about the style of a building she had seen abroad. The building appeared old, yet it incorporated new materials, techniques, and approaches. My response was that it had no specific style. It was designed to fit the context in some way, but not particularly successfully. Perhaps this is one of the defining characteristics of contemporary architecture – it is eclectic. Over time, it has filtered out both the best and sometimes the worst practices. We have the perceived freedom to design what and how we want, without adhering to any particular style.

Project for Karin Dom, Varna

In addition to this lack of a fixed style, contemporary architecture has significantly improved in terms of quality of living. Building safety regulations are constantly evolving, the indoor climate and occupant comfort are central issues for many architects, and new materials are constantly being developed. These are primarily technical solutions to challenges that have existed for centuries.

On the conceptual and aesthetic side, another key aspect I value is contextuality. The best examples of contemporary architecture do not conform to rigid stylistic or social expectations; instead, they respond to their environment – both tangible and intangible. I believe this is one of the most important principles to consider when designing. Self-referential design adds no real value to the environment or its inhabitants – it is merely a showcase.

How do you implement this perspective in atelier boy·k·ott's projects?

Contextualism is one of our core design principles. Context can be anything – it just needs to be discovered. There is no project without context; otherwise, architecture would not be an applied art. Some may argue that context is less relevant in interior design, but in fact, it is one of the easiest aspects to define. Each client is a unique individual, so a contextual design should reflect their personality, making the space equally unique.

When we start a project, we ask many questions about our clients' daily lives, habits, and interests. This allows us to translate that knowledge into a design that feels natural and right for its inhabitants. The same principle applies to our architectural projects, where we also consider the surrounding environment, ensuring that the building harmonizes with its setting and feels like it truly belongs.

Our main goal is to create bespoke, individually tailored designs that are not necessarily driven by transient trends. Focused on composition and meticulous detailing, we embrace Mies van der Rohe's maxim: "God is in the details."

Is there a common understanding about contemporary architecture and interior design that you would like to change?

There is a prevailing attitude toward architecture and design, particularly in Bulgaria, that I would like to change.

As architects, we often idealistically believe that architecture and design are essential in shaping and enhancing our environment. To us, they are far more than just documents that need to be prepared so a client can build something. We believe our work adds value to people's daily lives.

Unfortunately, many clients see things differently. They tend to be highly practical and often do not recognize the artistic aspect of our work. Instead, they perceive architects as mere administrators and do not fully trust or appreciate our expertise. As a result, they underestimate the impact architecture can have on their emotions, well-being, and aesthetic experience. This lack of understanding  often prevents truly great outcomes.

The projects we are most proud of belong to clients who appreciated our work the most – those who believed in our professionalism and expertise.

Which project by atelier boy·k·ott will you never forget?

I suppose this is true for most creative people – the projects we remember most are those where we were entrusted with something unexpected. In our case, it was an interior design project for a four-story, 300 sqm house. This happened in the first year of boy·k·ott's existence when we had limited experience in realizing the projects we designed. We had to navigate all the challenges of such a project for the first time. However, we learned a lot, and even 5-6 years later, the results still feel satisfying.

We are particularly proud of the level of detail we achieved in this project and the fact that we inspired the contractors to experiment with techniques they had never tried before. This included bespoke furniture, innovative methods for working with materials like wood boards and natural stone, and a unique approach to lighting design. For example, in the staircase, the lighting became the structural element of the railing, extending from the ground floor to the ceiling of the fourth floor. These elements – and many others – made this project truly special.

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