Here, we ask designers to take a selfie and give us an inside look at their life.
Age: 38
Occupation: Designer/architect.
Instagram: @studiokhachatryan
Hometown: Yerevan, Armenia, and Mechelen, Belgium.
Studio location: Brussels.
Describe what you make: I’m designing and developing objects and spaces—it’s a crossover of architecture, product design, and crafts.
The most important thing you’ve designed to date: The importance of a project is a relative given… it’s quite hard to tell! But now I’m thinking about a recent architectural project in Beirut, which I worked on for the better part of three years (2017–2020). It was an ambitious concept and had a high degree of excellence in execution. This project required a lot of time, challenges, and responsibility, but with a very satisfactory result. Perhaps this one was the most important.
Describe the problem your work solves: I think problem solving is just a daily ritual. These are sometimes problems that we do not see coming, but also often problems that create ourselves, then, perhaps, to find a solution. It’s kind of an action and reaction all the time.
Describe the project you are working on now: For the past 18 months until this week, I’ve been working on another architectural project in Brussels, transforming an empty warehouse in a dynamic cultural hub, which is where I’ve installed my new design studio and a new exhibition/gallery space for my friends Harlan Levey Projects. This was quite a full-time occupation until now. At the same time, I’m working on the production of several new objects that’ll soon be presented in a very nice gallery in Dallas.
A new or forthcoming project we should know about: There are many new works in the pipeline, the development of which has been underway for some time and production should start soon. As usual, I’m very excited to turn these concepts and the results of research into real objects.
What you absolutely must have in your studio: Light! Preferably the natural type.
What you do when you’re not working: Doing something that I feel like I’m in the right mood for… which can bring me back to work again.
Sources of creative envy: I don’t have creative envy, but maybe I don’t understand the question.
The distraction you want to eliminate: Definitely my phone.
Concrete or marble? Concrete.
High-rise or townhouse? Townhouse.
Remember or forget? Remember!
Aliens or ghosts? Aliens!
Dark or light? Both at the same time.
