STUDIO SP-ARCH: ARCHITECTURE BEYOND FOUR WALLS

When a young architect is brave enough to push boundaries and experienced enough to carve his own path, the results are satisfied clients and a growing portfolio of diverse projects. The professional trajectory of architect Spas Spasov is a case in point. In the five years since he founded his Plovdiv-based practice, Studio SP-Arch, he has established himself as a reliable partner to investors and owners of houses, large residential projects and more. His distinctive approach is based on striving for functional, high-quality solutions grounded in the best aesthetic practices of modern architecture and achieved through the latest technologies.

You built a strong professional presence with your own studio in less than five years. What is the recipe for your success?

It all began during the Covid-19 pandemic, when as a young architect I had to leave Sofia for a while and return to my hometown of Plovdiv. At that time many things in our sector were uncertain and there was a moment of slowdown and insecurity. That is when everything began for me as well. I started with a project for four single-family houses in the village of Belashtitsa, where the investor was impressed by my initial concept for the buildings. I quickly managed to gain his trust and that is how my journey began.

During the construction of the houses we also began working actively on many projects with a number of builders in Plovdiv and partnering with supervision companies in the city. We quickly managed to establish ourselves, but this was associated with long hours in the office, persistence and a quick response to investors' needs. We got to know the city and the needs of its inhabitants, while trying to introduce something individual into every project, but emphasised in an appropriate and well-balanced way.

I would say that the secret recipe is complete dedication to every project, while continuously keeping investors informed about the design process, so that they are also prepared for everything that happens during the construction that follows our work.

What kind of authorial and architectural imprint do you aim to leave on the contemporary Bulgarian architectural landscape?

Our aim is to offer a new and better understanding of architecture and the spirit it carries. We want to show that a building is not simply made up of four walls, but that the vision, elegance and style it brings can leave a lasting impression in the mind of every person. It should remain recognisable and fit into its surrounding environment in a new and positive way.

We strive for our buildings to have a strong and distinctive facade character, as well as a logical functional connection between the interior spaces. We know that every building requires considerable effort from our investors, and we try to be as helpful as possible to them through the buildings we design.

What opportunities does contemporary architecture give you to offer a better quality of service and a better final result?

We live in a fast-paced world. Technologies change constantly and we try to keep up with them. We work with licensed software and the latest developments the market has to offer so that we can present our projects in the most complete way. Our clients can see the building not only as a render, but also within specialised software, where they can walk through it, measure every dimension and explore in detail the elements we are developing.

What is the most challenging project that Studio SP-Arch has worked on?

Every project begins with the challenge of responding to the needs of the client in front of you, but one of the most complex projects over the past year, I would say, is Mortagon. It consists of two mixed-use buildings, connected along a party wall and designed with different heights, with two underground levels, a restaurant, offices and residential units. Integrating so many functions within a small building footprint was a challenge that we managed to overcome. I believe we succeeded in giving the project the strong visual identity our clients were looking for, as well as ensuring the functionality of every part of it.

Plovdiv, 69 Maritsa Blvd, atelier 4 
spas@sp-archdesign.com
sp-archdesign.com