Blue Bricks Flat

The brief:

To adapt a classic Sofia apartment in a residential building from the 1940s for contemporary living.

Our approach:

We drew inspiration from the apartment’s existing spaces and atmosphere and chose to highlight and enhance them. The transitional living room became the main centre of life in the home, with all rooms opening onto it. The master bedroom is separated from the living room by a glass portal and a light linen curtain, allowing for varying degrees of privacy.
The kitchen — originally a separate room — was opened up to the shared living space and functionally and technically connected to a storage area, laundry, and toilet.

We made full use of every opportunity to add storage and ensured generous work surfaces along the kitchen countertops.
A bold combination of vivid colors and different types of wood was introduced. We preserved and highlighted several original elements of the apartment: the terrazzo flooring in the entrance hall, the original wooden floors, and the plaster ceiling ornaments characteristic of the mid-20th century. Mirrors were used to visually expand the smaller spaces, while the sofa, table, and lighting fixtures serve as key accents.

The result:

An apartment that brings together the historical spirit of Sofia with contemporary design and modern living comfort.

Main Lobby of the Hospital for Childhood Diseases “Prof. Dr. Ivan Mitev” in Sofia

The Task

To transform the lobby of the Specialized Children’s Hospital “Prof. Dr. Ivan Mitev” in Sofia into a functional space that provides a comfortable and healthy environment for both staff and patients. As the lobby is the intersection point of all circulation routes in the hospital and a central distribution area, one of the main challenges was to organize, in the best possible way, the flows of people and the waiting areas within a space of limited size.

The interior project encompasses the complete design of the lobby, two emergency examination rooms, and patient restrooms, including a baby care room. The main requirement from the staff was that the space be well-organized, provide sufficient storage space, room for medical equipment, and be easy to maintain and clean. The patient waiting areas needed to offer adequate seating, along with a designated play area for children.

Our Approach

We achieved zoning not through partitions, but through furniture, materials, and lighting. In the lobby, we addressed the main circulation challenge by positioning the reception desk at the most strategic point for welcoming and directing patients, close to the other circulation routes. This also allowed hospital staff to exercise the most effective control over movement within the space.

We created two patient waiting areas with an optimal number of seats, as well as a children’s play area featuring an installation of colorful pipes. In addition to serving as an attractive, welcoming element, the installation also helps separate the waiting areas from the flow of newly arriving patients.

Part of the task of enhancing the lobby also included renovating the patient restrooms. We added a baby care room, which was part of the hospital’s broader strategy to become a contemporary and comfortable place for parents and their children.

The color palette is restrained, limited to white, calm shades of green, and oak veneer — a combination that balances contemporary minimalism with a sense of warmth and homeliness. Pink accents are used sparingly to highlight characteristic interior elements, both new and existing, subtly enlivening the otherwise calm atmosphere of the lobby. A similar approach is applied in the patient restrooms, continuing the aesthetic of the shared spaces.

The addition of an extra emergency examination room played a key role in relieving the pressure on the single existing room, which had been functioning beyond its capacity. We also considered the needs of the staff, who require a change in sensory experience and atmosphere within the context of their demanding daily routine. The interiors of the examination rooms follow the same principles of minimalism and functionality, but with a different color palette. Here, we used light blue tones, white neutral surfaces, clean lines, and carefully selected details to create a sense of cleanliness and calm.

The Result

A bright and harmonious space in which every element has a clear function and place. The interior relies on thoughtful solutions that make the hospital’s operation more convenient, calmer, and even an enjoyable experience.

Training Centre

The task:
To transform a hall at the Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment of Childhood Diseases “Prof. Ivan Mitev” in Sofia into a training centre for families with children with diabetes.

Our approach:
We were working with a space on the top floor— not very high, but bright and with a wonderful view. The main function of the hall was to be a place where, in an informal and almost home-like atmosphere, parents of children living with diabetes could meet and talk, and where training sessions and meetings with psychologists could be held. At the same time, we needed to preserve the possibility for lectures, student exams, screenings, and similar events.
That is why we focused on flexibility. We enlarged the windows and designed shelving/bench seating along the walls. We created storage space for tables and chairs, concealed behind a curtain that can be drawn back when needed to expand the room. We chose pastel tones and wood to create a sense of calm and warmth—qualities so uncharacteristic of hospitals. We also decided to introduce color on the ceiling, to emphasize horizontality and visually connect the interior with the exterior space.

The result:
A space where children with diabetes and their families can communicate with specialists in a pleasant, relaxed, and non-stressful environment.

Lozenets Apartment

The brief:
To design a living room with a workspace and an entrance hall in the apartment of a family with two children.

Our approach:
In a 1970s apartment, a very large living room with a chimney in the middle had to become the focal point of family life while also accommodating a small home office. The entrance hall, with its period-typical mosaic flooring, needed to be transformed into a warm and welcoming space with adequate storage.

We focused on flexibility. We designed a striking shelving unit with movable panels that allow the appearance of the furniture to change. Around the centrally positioned chimney, we organized a workspace with low storage furniture that also provides seating. We used natural wood and warm grey tones to create a visual connection with the existing parquet flooring.

In the entrance hall, we made use of all the niches to create as much storage space as possible. This helped neutralize the fragmented layout and made the space feel larger. We preserved the original mosaic floor and again used wood and warm grey to create a sense of continuity and warmth.

The result:
A cozy apartment where the family truly feels at home.