Can you please provide us with a description of your professional career?
I grew up in the Bulgarian city of Varna, and studied architecture at the Technical Universities in Munich and Aachen, before beginning my professional career in Germany, working mostly on residential, mixed-use and healthcare projects.

I moved to London in 2004 and joined the practice that would later be acquired by Stantec, where I am currently Interior Leader, Associate and Senior Architect at the London office.

What inspired you to become an interior designer?
I have always loved sketching and creating. My decision to take a career path as an architect, and not as an artist or a scientist, was influenced by my grandfather who was a well-recognised architect in Bulgaria and used to take me to places he’d designed. He combined the modernistic architecture of the ‘60s with traditional elements. For me, the study of architecture was a love-hate relationship at the beginning; until I discovered the power of placemaking to improve people’s lives and the satisfaction connected with it.

After a career as a general architect in Germany, I started to work in London on the development of interior strategies for large-scale hospital buildings. The complexity of these buildings, the mixture of healthcare and hospitality, the importance of wayfinding and art all inspired me to do more interior design work.

Later, working in the Middle East and being exposed to the rich interiors typical of the countries of the region made me realise architects can learn a lot from interior designers in terms of richness of colour and materials. I started to combine what I learned with my approach of simplicity, and every project became a stepping stone in my career.

Who has been your greatest source of inspiration throughout your career? The first and most enduring influence was my family. I learned from my parents and grandparents that it is important to be persistent in your work in order to achieve your dreams. I have also been fortunate enough to live in different countries and to work on major international projects around the world. My experience with different cultures and my love for history and architectural traditions have added to the richness of my understanding of what a space should provide on all kinds of levels, including aesthetics, flow, wellbeing and socialisation. The people I have been lucky enough to work with – and for – over the years have all added to my inspiration too.

How do you approach your projects?
A project begins with the development of the space planning based on the client’s brief. The next touchpoint for any project is the location because every design must connect the end-user to their sense of self. Perceptions of place and cultural identity are a critical part of that equation. In general, in every project, I tried to incorporate something new – be it the way a space is planned or the way materials and colours are composed.

Further sources of visual inspiration are other sectors unrelated to architecture – like scenography, fashion and art installations. Seeing work unrelated to my field adds a different dimension to the project.

I’m also fortunate to work for an international company, so I also tap into that resource to ensure my designs benefit from learnings from previous projects and global best practice.

Who is your favourite interior designer and why?
Actually, I cannot say I have a single favourite architect or interior designer. I admire designers who meet the requirements for a project but also create a sense of place in an efficient yet innovative way. I have always admired the sculptural work of Zaha Hadid.

Would you say that you have a design style?
I think all architects and interior designers have a design toolkit that sits at the heart of their signature style, but this is a starting point – not a template – so elements that I would recognise as unique to my work may not be obvious to others.

I would say that my style is all about creating spaces that are flexible enough to meet varying client requirements while providing cohesion that connects all users with a sense of place.

Another important element of my work is the creation of a procession of spaces full of light and visual cues. I aim to create interiors that are efficient but also elegant, simple and inspirational – a combination of functionality and hospitality, easily navigable by all users. An especially important element of my design work is the use of light as a material in its own right. I also always look for opportunities to bring the natural environment into the built environment.

What do you believe is the biggest challenge for today’s interior designers?
I think the biggest challenge is communicating the real value of what we do as professional interior specialists. Interior design is more than simple decoration – it is about the interior life of a building, and interior designers need to be involved in large projects from the very beginning of the process. In general, the interiors we create can help to support a company’s brand, improve productivity, enable knowledge sharing and deliver health and wellbeing benefits.

What has been your biggest accomplishment to date?
I enjoy designing commercial projects, but I think my greatest achievements are the healthcare projects where I know my work will have a positive impact on people’s experience, sometimes during the most challenging times of their lives.

The Newcastle PFI Hospitals; The South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen; the London Clinic Cancer Centre and the Guys Cancer Centre (in cooperation with RSHP) all fall into this category. My work on projects in the Middle East, Hong Kong and North America have also been important accomplishments and great learning exercises.

Can you talk us through one of your most recent design schemes?
The brief for a recent project to design Iron Mountain’s London HQ was to reflect the company’s headquarters in Boston, while also incorporating design touches that are more in tune with UK workplace styles.

The design included a ‘heart space’ in the centre of the office that uses natural colours and materials to create a sense of openness and bring the outdoors in. These employees to work collaboratively, take time out to work alone quietly, socialise or simply step away from their desk to gain a feeling of being ‘outside’ the office.

Biophilic elements – including plants, a backlit ‘moss wall’, green colour accents and the use of timber – all supported a sense of wellbeing in the work environment.

Have you witnessed any recurring requests from your clients?
I think the biggest recurring theme is flexibility. We live in a fast-paced world where technology is creating constant evolution in the way we live and work. Clients want to know that the spaces we’re designing can adapt to change and offer a timeless sense of style.

Do you have a preferred colour palette you enjoy working with?
Colour schemes need to work for the project typology and the branding of the client. In general, I prefer lighter schemes with a splash of accents to create visual cues. I avoid following colour trends and focus more on creating universal colour schemes suited for the particular project.

What advice would you offer to those that are considering a career in interior design?
Think holistically, be flexible – think outside of the box, respond to the client’s needs, but also create a unique interior environment with a memorable sense of place. Be innovative in everything, dream big and learn from the best.

What do you believe is the biggest challenge for newly qualified interior designers?
It can be hard at first to balance your creative approach to the project with the need to understand the client’s requirements and the user’s needs. Interior specialists often choose the career because they have an instinct for design, but learning to tailor that instinct to the project, the client and the end-user can be challenging.

Do you have any favourite suppliers for your interior schemes?
I am always open to exploring new suppliers and products that are ecological, aesthetically pleasing and fit the budget of the scheme.

What can we expect to see from you over the next year?
The design for my next Intuitive Surgery project has just completed in Bordeaux, and I am already working on the design of their Geneva premises. So my immediate responsibilities in the months ahead are all about evolving the corporate template to meet the requirements for different locations and local teams. On the healthcare side, I am also leading the development of the interior architecture for international healthcare schemes.