Giving discarded objects a new life
- Three friends from school share a passion for upcycling
- They feel old furniture is an exceptional resource for high quality materials
- The beauty of their objects lies in their uniqueness
You may see these items on any regular day on the street in Sofia: the side of a garbage container, parts of a chair, a partially dismantled bookcase, a door frame, even a couch. Usually these things would go unnoticed and forgotten forever, unless saved by Punkt. Ivailo Mitev, Maria Paоunova and Petar Kamenov formed their upcycling workshop in 2010, located in a former factory. A rarity in Bulgaria, they are the go-to artisans for anyone in need of a unique, upcycled masterpiece for the home. Apart from the streets, they gather their 'treasures' from second-hand shops and attics and basements of people who need to get rid of old belongings.
INTERVIEW
We come from different disciplines. Maria and Ivailo worked as set and costume designers in film and theatre productions, while Peter is a ceramicist. In the context of Punkt, Maria specialises in welding and carving, Ivailo and Peter in assembling and structures.
A grinder, a circular saw, welding machines, chisels and planers. The workshop has five working tables and we move around a lot. Ivailo inherited tools from his grandfather, who was the first to teach him how to use them and make his own toys.
Each project has its own specifics and challenges, but most often we begin with the existing material; the idea comes afterwards. Usually, after disassembly, we begin to play with combinations of different elements and reformat functionality and aesthetics.
In these years of over-consumerism, we bring new life to discarded furniture and prove that reusing it brings poetry and practical meaning. We try to preserve and honour the spirit and sense of time of the objects and offer them a dignified chance of continued existence.
Maria Paounova, Ivailo Mitev & Petar Kamenov
Furniture maker
Sofia, Bulgaria
AVAILABILITY
By appointment only
PHONE
+359 888235320
LANGUAGES
Bulgarian, English
