In love with an eternal craft
- Lyubomir prefers using traditional woodworking techniques
- His biggest challenge is to create something that's never been done before
- He describes himself as a full-blooded artisan
The sudden need for a comfortable, durable and attractive kids dining chair led Lyubomir Stoev (or Lubo, as he is known) to create one himself when his son turned six months old. This was the first piece of furniture he made by himself and also marked the beginning of Ourhood, the studio he launched together with his wife Yana. Despite his educational background in electronics and marketing, Lubo's childhood hobby was making various creations in his grandfather’s workshop. There he learnt how to work with tools and to craft independently, even making his own bow and arrows. Еventually this would turn out to be the place where he would create his first wooden products.
Interview
- Do you still work in your grandfather’s workshop?
- I started working there, in less than 10m2, but eventually I needed more space and hired an assistant. Nowadays we have our own space, an old factory for threads on the outskirts of Sofia, in Knyazhevo. There are now four of us working there
- What makes woodwork so interesting for you?
- Wood has a special warmth and natural feel. It looks amazing and has a unique smell. Its colours, patterns and scent are deeply connected to the human consciousness and this connection is the reason for my love for it. I like working with broad-leaved trees and hardwood: nut tree, beech and oak.
- When is a piece of furniture well made?
- In the first place, its quality must be durable over time and refined in the smallest detail. However our main goal is to give more to each product through the feeling and spirit inherent to the wood itself.
- How do you see the future of your profession?
- Carpentry is an eternal craft which will gain even more popularity in the future. A table made of wood is much more sustainable than one made of different kinds of panels. Despite the fact that we use trees, the final product is almost eternal and there is no production waste, except biological shavings.
Lyubomir Stoev is a rising star: he began his career in 2017 and he started teaching in 2018
Where
Lyubomir Stoev
