Ontwerper van de Dag Interview
18 vragen
I am the founder of Eklekt Atelier, an architecture and interior design studio based in Kraków, working internationally on private residential architecture, interiors and landscape-oriented projects.
Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I am the founder of Eklekt Atelier, an architecture and interior design studio based in Kraków, working internationally on private residential architecture, interiors and landscape-oriented projects. My background is strongly rooted in applied arts education based on Bauhaus principles, which I studied in Athens, Greece. This early education shaped my understanding of proportion, simplicity, material honesty and the relationship between art, craftsmanship and architecture.
From the very beginning, I was deeply inspired by classical architecture and the timeless harmony of ancient Greek and Mediterranean spaces. Growing up surrounded by the architecture, light and atmosphere of Greece had a profound influence on my sensitivity towards space, scale and natural materials. Stone, wood, concrete and textures shaped by time remain essential elements in my work today.
Becoming an architect was always my dream. Architecture fascinated me long before I fully understood the profession itself. I was always drawn to spaces that could create emotion, silence and atmosphere rather than simply visual effect. Over the years, this fascination evolved into a personal design language focused on minimalism, strong geometry, emotional experience and deep connection between architecture and landscape.
Today, my work focuses on creating timeless spaces that combine architecture, interiors and nature into one coherent experience. I believe architecture should not only impress visually, but also create calmness, identity and emotional connection for the people who live within it.
How did you become a designer?
I always knew I wanted to become an architect. From an early age, I was fascinated by cities, buildings, proportions and the emotional impact of spaces. My path toward design naturally developed through my education in Athens, where I studied in a school focused on applied arts and Bauhaus-inspired principles. This experience taught me to see design as a balance between aesthetics, function, craftsmanship and simplicity.
At the same time, living in Greece exposed me daily to the influence of classical antiquity, Mediterranean landscapes and architecture deeply connected to light and nature. These experiences shaped my understanding of timeless architecture and continue to inspire my work today.
Over time, architecture became much more than a profession for me — it became a way of expressing atmosphere, emotion and identity through space. Through years of practice, travel and observation, I gradually developed a personal approach rooted in minimalism, natural materials and strong relationships between architecture and landscape.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
My priorities in design are atmosphere, proportion, functionality and timelessness. I always try to create spaces that feel calm, emotionally engaging and naturally connected to their environment. I believe architecture should age beautifully and remain relevant far beyond temporary trends.
Functionality is a fundamental part of my design philosophy. In my projects, form and aesthetics always emerge from function and the way people experience and use the space in everyday life. I believe the most powerful architecture is created when beauty grows naturally from clarity, purpose and well-resolved spatial relationships rather than from purely decorative gestures.
My design approach is strongly influenced by Bauhaus principles, classical architecture and Mediterranean minimalism. I value simplicity, clarity of form and honest use of natural materials such as stone, wood, concrete and textured surfaces shaped by light. Rather than focusing on excessive gestures, I prefer architecture that creates emotional depth through proportion, rhythm, shadow and spatial experience.
Technically, I combine digital tools with intuitive thinking, sketching and conceptual exploration. I approach each project holistically — architecture, interiors, landscape and light should function together as one coherent composition.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
Designing is a deeply emotional and immersive process for me. At the beginning of every project, I usually feel curiosity and excitement because each space carries hidden potential waiting to be discovered. I enjoy the moment when an abstract idea slowly transforms into architecture with its own atmosphere, identity and emotional presence.
The greatest satisfaction comes from refining proportions, light, materials and functionality until everything feels natural and coherent. I strongly believe that beauty in architecture should emerge from logic, function and the way people truly experience space. In my projects, form and aesthetics are never separated from usability — they evolve together as one harmonious system.
Designing gives me a sense of fulfillment because it allows me to transform emotions, memories and intuition into spaces that people can live in and emotionally connect with. For me, architecture is not only about creating buildings, but about shaping experiences, silence, calmness and relationships between people and their environment.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
My background was strongly shaped by applied arts education based on Bauhaus principles in Athens, Greece. This experience taught me discipline, clarity of form and the importance of functionality in design. At the same time, living in Greece exposed me daily to classical antiquity, Mediterranean architecture and the relationship between architecture, landscape and natural light. These influences continue to shape my sensitivity toward timeless proportions, natural materials and emotional atmosphere in space.
Beyond architecture itself, travel, observation and understanding human behavior have been equally important in my development as a designer. I believe architecture should not only look beautiful, but also function naturally and improve everyday life. In my projects, aesthetics always emerge from functionality, spatial logic and the emotional experience of the user.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
My goal is to continue developing Eklekt Atelier as an internationally recognized studio focused on emotionally driven architecture, interiors and landscape-oriented projects. I want to further refine a strong architectural language rooted in minimalism, functionality, timelessness and connection to nature.
In the future, I would like to create more projects in Mediterranean environments, especially in Greece, where architecture can strongly interact with landscape, light, water and topography. My dream projects are private residences and hospitality spaces that create a deep emotional experience while remaining calm, functional and timeless. I am particularly interested in architecture that blurs the boundary between interior and exterior space.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
My advice is to focus less on trends and more on developing your own sensitivity and understanding of space. Young designers should learn patience because good architecture takes time, experience and continuous refinement. It is also very important to travel, observe real architecture, study proportions, natural light and materials instead of relying only on digital references.
I would also advise young designers to never separate aesthetics from functionality. Beautiful architecture without logic and usability quickly becomes superficial. In truly timeless design, form naturally grows out of function, proportion and the way people experience space in everyday life.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
I believe designers should focus on authenticity rather than constantly chasing visibility or temporary trends. Strong architecture is created through consistency, patience and a deep understanding of proportion, function and atmosphere. It is important to create projects that age well emotionally and materially.
I also believe natural materials, simplicity and clarity are becoming increasingly important in a world overloaded with visual noise. Designers should remember that architecture is ultimately created for people and everyday life. The most meaningful projects are often the ones that feel calm, intuitive and timeless rather than overly complicated or attention-seeking.
What is your day to day look like?
My days usually begin calmly, often with time spent thinking, sketching or reviewing concepts before entering the operational rhythm of the studio. I do not separate creativity from everyday management because architecture requires balancing both emotional sensitivity and practical decision-making.
A large part of my day involves discussions with clients, consultants, contractors and my team, but I always try to preserve quiet moments for conceptual thinking and creative focus. I work intensely, often late into the evening, because some of the best ideas appear when there is silence and full concentration.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
I observe contemporary design, but I try not to follow trends directly. Trends are temporary by nature, while architecture should remain meaningful and relevant for decades. Instead of focusing on trends, I prefer studying timeless architecture, classical proportions, natural materials and emotional qualities of space.
My inspiration comes more from travel, cinema, art, photography, landscapes and historical architecture than from social media trends. I believe strong design should have its own identity and authenticity rather than trying to imitate what is currently popular.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
For me, good design is timeless, functional and emotionally meaningful. A well-designed project feels natural and effortless, as if nothing unnecessary has been added and nothing important has been omitted. I believe architecture should create calmness, clarity and a strong relationship between people, light and space.
I evaluate design not only by aesthetics, but also by how it functions in everyday life. In my opinion, form should always emerge from function and spatial logic. When a project is truly well designed, people intuitively understand and experience the space without needing explanation.
One of the most common mistakes in design today is prioritizing visual impact over authenticity and usability. Many projects try too hard to impress visually while forgetting atmosphere, comfort and emotional longevity. Good design should remain meaningful long after trends disappear.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
A project feels ready when all elements — function, proportion, light, materiality and atmosphere — work together naturally and coherently. It is less about perfection and more about reaching a sense of balance where nothing feels excessive or unresolved.
At the same time, I believe architecture is never completely finished in an emotional sense because every project continues to evolve through the people who live within it and the passage of time. However, there is always a moment during the design process when intuition tells you that the project has achieved its identity and clarity.
What is your biggest design work?
13. What is your biggest design work?
One of the most significant projects in my career was the design of a public park commissioned by the City of Kraków. This project was particularly important because it combined architecture, landscape and public space into one cohesive environment intended to improve everyday urban life and create a stronger connection between people and nature.
Designing on a public scale required balancing functionality, accessibility, ecology and emotional atmosphere while responding to the identity of the surrounding city fabric. The project taught me the importance of creating spaces that are not only visually coherent, but also socially meaningful and naturally integrated into their environment.
This experience strongly influenced my later architectural approach, especially my sensitivity toward landscape, movement, spatial composition and the relationship between built form and nature.
Who is your favourite designer?
I deeply admire architects such as Tadao Ando, John Pawson and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for their understanding of simplicity, proportion and spatial atmosphere. I am also strongly inspired by classical Greek architecture and the timeless harmony of antiquity.
What connects all of these influences is the idea that architecture does not need unnecessary complexity to create emotional power. I admire designers who understand light, silence, materiality and restraint.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
My lifestyle is deeply connected to travel, art, photography and observation of everyday life. During my travels, I am particularly interested in documenting local architecture, cultural rituals, textures, light and culinary traditions of each region. I believe every place carries its own atmosphere and identity, which can be understood not only through buildings, but also through food, craftsmanship, habits and the way people interact with space.
Having lived and studied in Greece, Mediterranean culture had a profound influence on my sensitivity toward light, natural materials, landscape and timeless simplicity. These experiences continue to shape my architectural language and emotional approach to design.
Photography plays an important role in the way I observe proportions, shadow and spatial composition, while painting allows me to express emotions and intuition in a more abstract and personal way. Both disciplines strongly influence my architectural process by teaching me sensitivity toward atmosphere, color, texture and visual balance.
I believe architecture should be connected to life itself — to memory, culture, nature and human experience — rather than existing purely as an isolated object.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
My work philosophy is based on authenticity, collaboration and attention to detail. I believe architecture should emerge from dialogue between function, atmosphere and the individual needs of the client. Every project is approached holistically, where architecture, interiors and landscape form one coherent vision.
I value honesty, trust and long-term relationships both within my team and with clients. At Eklekt Atelier, we focus on creating timeless spaces rather than following temporary trends. Functionality is always fundamental in our process because I believe beauty should naturally evolve from usability, proportion and clarity.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
I believe architects have a responsibility to improve the quality of human experience through thoughtful and timeless design. While architecture may not always directly solve social problems, it can positively influence the way people live, feel and interact with their environment.
I try to contribute by promoting architecture that values simplicity, sustainability, emotional well-being and connection to nature. I also believe sharing knowledge, inspiring younger designers and encouraging sensitivity toward space and materials are important forms of contribution within the creative community.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A' Design Award?
Participating in the A’ Design Award was a very valuable experience because it provided international recognition and an opportunity to present my work within a global design context. Awards and competitions can help designers gain visibility, build credibility and connect with broader audiences and professionals from different fields.
What I appreciate most is the possibility to share architectural ideas and emotions beyond local boundaries. Being recognized by an international jury is both motivating and inspiring, encouraging further exploration and development of a personal architectural language.