Men Bureau is the brainchild of Oleksander Maruzenko
A Ukraine-based multi-disciplinary design firm who creates interiors for private and public use. Men Bureau believe that design is always a dialogue and each project is unique, inspired by a client's individuality and responsive to the space conditions. We sat down with Oleksander and delved deeper into the design process behind Men Bureau.
Where does your passion for design come from?
All my life I considered myself not a creative person. I saved many pictures on the phone of such famous architects and designers as Vincent Van Duysen, Mies Van der Roe and Peter Zumthor in high school physics and mathematics of the Lyceum. I did not attach any importance to this then, I just liked to consider the details of each project. All my life I was good in physics and mathematics; I was a prize-winner of many city school Olympiads.
Before choosing a university for myself, I talked with those who study at our central architectural university. As a result, I entered the Department of Physics at the most prestigious university in our country, because at that time it was important for me to have a diploma with which I could work anywhere in the world. All this time I have been subscribed to many media like yatzer, dezeen, and yellowtrace. Then I also did not attach any importance to this.
I realised that physics is not something with which I want to connect my life in the 3rd year. I was engaged in PR and marketing for a while, but I felt that this was not me either, even though I was good at it. Then I noticed that in my social networks I was following only designers and architects; and it was as if I got an electric shock - so that's was what I was interested in. I learned how to do visualizations, got into a design studio whose projects I like, created concepts, went to construction sites and controlled the implementation process ... the more I was making my way into the design sphere, the more I fell in love and was convinced that I was in my place. Now I work in my studio Men Bureau and I don't know what I could do except design. It has become a way of life.
We can tell by you interior designs that you use a lot of natural materials, what would you say is your signature style?
I strive to purify forms and materials to their essence. I create a neutral and aesthetic space that manages to highlight the textures, the incidence of the light and the constructive details that form the basis for a pure and timeless design. Each project gains its character from timeless design, choice of materials and finishing details. I have never seen the point of chasing trends and fashion in any area, it is much more important to understand myself, then the desire to meet any requirements from the outside will disappear.
Your style seems to have a unique edge, a carefully crafted minimalism, functional yet stylish. What is your creative process when you start working on a new project/client?
Design is always a dialogue. Each project is unique, responsive to the space conditions, and inspired by our client's individuality. I need to establish absolute contact with the client because, to show my value as a specialist, complete trust with each of the participants is needed. All our projects are equipped with contemporary amenities that guarantee a comfortable lifestyle for their inhabitants. This principle has produced a project of understated elegance and contemporary minimalism where everything is seamlessly integrated into the building fabric and where bold geometries are combined with materials in their natural unfinished state.
What is the most difficult part of an interior designer job when working with clients?
Any difficulties begin where there is mistrust and misunderstanding. Fortunately, I only work with clients I feel comfortable with. Before starting any project, I meet with new customers 1 to 3 times, where we talk about any topic other than design. It is very important. Any project lasts at least 9 months - almost like giving birth to a child. After that, I make a decision - is it worth working with people or not. I don't understand how you can get a good result by working with people with whom you are not on the same wavelength. Moreover, in such a multifaceted profession as ours. Of course, as a result, I cannot boast that I have 100 projects a year, but I have no such goal either.
What is your favourite project to date and why?
Each project is my favorite. Each has its peculiarity, uniqueness. My team and I invest a lot of energy so that each new project is more interesting and thoughtful, we remove unnecessary things, add details, we strive to make each new house an ideal place for our customers. It happens that you look at the old projects and think that something could be improved/tweaked, but it is important not to forget that all the solutions were the best at the time of realization, and all of us (designers and customers) are growing and developing every year. There is no limit to perfection.
Are there any particular Instagram accounts that inspire you?
I don't like the word inspiration. This is something very abstract. But at the same time, I leaf through Instagram every day and find many interesting solutions in different spaces. For example, an unusual joint of materials or a bold combination of textures. And I save them in my folder. I'm watching who I subscribe to, it is important for me not to get caught up in the information noise and spend as much time as possible with my wife and dog. I mostly follow designers/architects whose projects I like, for example, Hollie Bowden, Nathalie Deboel, atelier10.8, PaulsenNilsen, Pierre Yovanovitch and Anne-Cathérine Ramboux.
Are there any rules that you stick by and apply in your interior design regularly?
Our team needs to make timeless projects in which our clients will be comfortable and calm. We put a lot of meaning into the word "home" and try to convey our philosophy to our clients. Home is not just four walls and a roof over your head. Home is a place of power, this is where it all begins, what shapes us as a person, affects our everyday mood, reflects us as a person. Every project is a projection of our clients. Simple and honest natural materials that we use in our projects allow us to feel everything that I wrote above.
What advice would you give your younger self, entering the interior design field?
Not to be afraid of. This is the most important and difficult part, especially when you are just starting. Always keep in mind that there are no ready-made solutions in our profession. Each project is unique because it reflects the personality of the customer. Remember that it is impossible to know everything. You will always not fully understand something. There is always something to learn, it is impossible to be 100% ready for the first project. It is impossible to predict all the difficulties that you will face during implementation. Do not forget that we, as professionals, must educate our clients in some way. Offer different options, insist on your decisions, argue your choice. Not to be afraid of the new, but also with understanding to relate to the fact that not all ideas will be implemented as we would like. A large team of contractors and designers work on each project, there is always a human factor. It doesn't matter if there is a problem - what matters is how you react to it.
