Konstantin Achkov

Cabinetmaker

©Konstantin Achkov

©Kalin Tsolov

©Konstantin Achkov

Sculpting furniture

Konstantin started out in sculpture before designing furniture
Corrugated cardboard is one of his most loved materials
He inherited his engineering precision and artistry from his father

Konstantin Achkov is well known in the Bulgarian design world for creating and producing furniture cut from a single sheet of plywood and assembled using interlocking flat-pack systems. Ranging from home and office accessories through chairs and shelving to lighting fixtures, each piece is distinguished by a unified style. Even though his occupation is furniture making, Konstantin holds a master's degree in sculpture from the National Academy of Arts, Sofia. He is keen on experimenting with precise engineering techniques and applying sculptural visions to everyday objects.

Interview

©Kalin Tsolov

©Konstantin Achkov

Do you remember what you wanted to become as a child?: As clichéd as it may sound, I wanted to become a designer. I was aware from a young age that this is an interesting creative profession in which objects are invented. To me, this sounded almost magical and something very important and responsible.
Why did you start out in sculpture?: When I started taking drawing lessons as a kid, one day I had to copy the plaster cast of Donatello's head. My teacher was pleased by the result and insisted I study sculpture. My years at the Academy were nurturing and gave me the foundations of a professional approach to the discipline.
Who influenced you the most in your formative years?: Krum Damianov, a colossal figure of Bulgarian sculpture with landmark projects in Bulgaria and around the world, who generously shared his exceptional analytical intellect. Also my father Boris Achkov, one of the pioneers of Bulgarian design in the 1960s and 1970s.
How do you approach a project?: Quite often I develop an idea in a whole series. Then I prepare a 1:5 scale model from corrugated cardboard, before moving on to accurate computer drawings, followed by the cutting and sampling of prototype pieces. I try to attain a final product by the second or third prototype.

Konstantin Achkov is a master artisan: he began his career in 2003 and he started teaching in 2005