We are excited to welcome Serhii Makhno, a distinguished architect, designer, and artist, to our conversation today. Serhii recently joined the BLT Built Design Awards jury, bringing his deep expertise and innovative perspective to this prestigious role.
As the founder of MAKHNO Studio, Serhii has led the creation of over 600 projects across 25 countries, each one showcasing a unique blend of Ukrainian culture, contemporary design, and forward-thinking creativity. His work has earned numerous awards, including the Red Dot Design Award and the Architecture MasterPrize.
In addition to his architectural achievements, Serhii is also renowned for his contributions to ceramics, where his creations reflect the wabi-sabi philosophy. His designs have been exhibited at major international events, affirming his influence in the global design community.
Today, we’ll explore Serhii’s impressive career, his new role with the BLT Built Design Awards, and his thoughts on the future of design.
What motivated you to start MAKHNO Studio, and how has your vision for the studio evolved since its inception?
I started more than 20 years ago when the profession of an interior designer simply didn’t exist in my country, Ukraine. People didn’t understand what it meant. So, the entire process of establishing this industry happened with my direct involvement. Alongside this development, the studio grew as well: from one person, it expanded into a team of fifty top professionals. We also became not just designers, but architects, ceramists, and true contemporary artists.
How do you incorporate the principles of the Japanese wabi-sabi aesthetic into your ceramic and architectural designs?
At one time, this aesthetic paradigm inspired me to rethink the Ukrainian cultural heritage, as well as any other deep authentic cultural legacy. This led to the principles of our studio’s work, which include “naturalness,” “rethinking traditions,” and “perfect imperfection.” The latter principle is my vision inspired by wabi-sabi. It’s a principle that makes design feel alive and genuine, special, and unique, as opposed to serial and artificial. This is achieved through the handmade creation of each element (which already makes any product or project unique) and the desire to reveal the essence of the material, its raw tactile authenticity, without hiding or polishing it.
What role does ceramics play in your architectural designs, and how does it enhance the overall aesthetic and functionality of your projects?
Ceramics are our love and inspiration. We have our own studio where some of the world’s best ceramists, descendants of ancient artisan dynasties, work. There, we create things that surprise and change perceptions of the possibilities of ceramics: ceramic furniture, modular walls, artistic 3D tiles, art lamps, and more. My love for clay comes from childhood. My grandmother in the village taught me how to make clay walls, and I also remember starting to collect old ceramic pots from nearby households as a child. Quite an unusual hobby for a seven-year-old boy, right?
How has the international recognition of MAKHNO Studio influenced your approach to design and architecture?
International recognition has taught us to work simultaneously within the context of different cultural paradigms, innovative design, and contemporary art. This crystallized our unique style. The more we understand the world, the more unique our projects become. And that means they are more interesting and valuable.
In what ways do you think your Ukrainian heritage influences your work, and how do you convey that through your designs?
Ukraine has grand authentic artistic traditions. This will surprise the world. Currently, we are reviving ancient Ukrainian techniques of working with materials, architectural and artistic practices, viewpoints, and aesthetic paradigms. We are reviving and rethinking them. This is a vast well of ideas and inspiration, adding a distinctive and unparalleled uniqueness to our projects.
How has the ongoing conflict in Ukraine affected your work and creative process?
War is the most terrible thing that can happen. It’s a titanic stress and constant physical, psychological, mental, energetic, and resourceful tension. You cannot imagine the conditions in which our people are currently working. But rest assured, this gives us even more motivation to create and promote Ukrainian creativity and business worldwide. We must stand strong, win, and become even better. This is the path of the warriors of light.
How do you see the role of designers and artists in contributing to cultural resilience during times of conflict?
An artist is a creator and transmitter of ideas. In the long run, it is not weapons that win, but ideas. Therefore, the importance of any perspective-shaping creative activity at this time cannot be overstated.
As a jury member for the BLT Built Design Awards, what qualities do you look for in standout projects?
First of all, individuality and a unique signature. In every good idea, I see either a standard rational “correct” approach or an amazing and indescribable presence of the creator’s personality. The first is good, but I value the second more.
Photo: MAKHNO Studio
