DON'T MISS A THING

Meet Olga Bondarenko, a talented architect and head of AUGUST BURO—an architecture and design studio based in Moscow, Russia. Offering a harmonious combination of aesthetics and design principles with the latest technologies to create comfortable interiors, AUGUST BURO creates luxury residences and commercial environments alike.

Olga leads her team in crafting unique elegant spaces that call to mind the royalty for which the bureau is named. A reference to the title “August”, a name used for a member of the royal family, an august person. The name reflects the firm’s special attitude towards its clients and the status of the spaces they create. Each given the royal treatment, with elements like lighting, furnishings, and materials from top European suppliers integrated for cohesive beauty and comfort.

Join us as we take a peek inside the inspiring mind of Olga Bondarenko in this edition of Love Happens’ Design Questionnaire.

Lh Design Questionnaire with Olga Bondarenko of August Buro Architecture & Design

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Family and professional fulfillment are what give my life meaning. Warm relationships combined with energy and the ability to pursue ambitious plans. These are what I consider to be perfect happiness.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I deeply cherish many things in my life; a wonderful daughter, a talented team, and interesting projects. I believe that our greatest achievements are yet to come. We are actively developing and are only at the beginning of our path.

What profession does your alter ego have?

If I weren’t an architect, I would likely see myself in management or business, creating and nurturing business structures. I have always clearly felt this innate entrepreneurial drive.

The project you will never forget.

A memorable project is one of the recent ones: The two-story country house was created as a cozy family nest, uniting different generations of the client’s large family. We did not separate the kitchen, living room, and dining room zones. Thus, we got a single space for family gatherings, filled with light and air.

The interior is in a classic style with an emphasis on lighting and elegant decor details.

The highlight of the interior is the illuminated quartz countertops. Built-in lighting reveals the natural beauty of the stone, providing delicate evening lighting. The warm soft glow transforms the space and creates a mood for long family conversations. The most valuable aspect of this project was the interaction with the client and mutual understanding which became a key factor in the success of this interior design project.

Your favorite business tool or resource.

My favorite business tool is being really quick to test hypotheses. I do not hesitate to conduct many experiments and test new things. I believe the application of new ideas and methods in business is a key factor for development and achieving success.

The most timeless design. 

I see timeless design as a deeply personal aspect, a source of inspiration. It is something you regularly return to, and that forms a connection with your own life and career. For me, the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright is this kind of thing. Wright’s work reminds me of my student years, when I first discovered and was captivated by the architect.

The biggest design faux pas.

Lately I’ve been encountering a lot a simplified approach to interior design that boils down to merely decorating the space and adding trendy furnishings.

I believe that true interior design must be grounded in architectural fundamentals: it is important to focus first on the purity of lines, correct proportions, and engineering systems. Otherwise, serious mistakes can be made, no matter how many decorative elements are added on top. In our projects, I always insist on a thoughtful, comprehensive approach to creating beautiful and functional interiors.

Your design motto.

My design motto is to create aesthetics in every line and comfort in every detail, always starting with an architectural vision of the space.

Our publisher, KOKET, makes statement décor. If you were to design a room around one of the pieces, which would it be and why?

In fact, it was quite difficult to choose. I can easily imagine beautiful KOKET items in our best design projects.

From the items I liked the most, I would highlight the Burlesque Console: a graceful piece, but with a bold character. It is an object that is so interesting to examine as it varies depending on the angle of view. I like that it is so exotic, it is sure to become an accent of the space where it is placed.

Love Happens when…

…. love is inside your heart. It is not just a feeling that comes from the outside. It originates and grows within us. Cultivating love within oneself, you start to see love everywhere, in everything—in people, things, and ideas.

Explore more from Olga Bondarenko and August Buro

Introduction and copyediting by Bridget Kitson
Photos by Evgeny Gnesin | All Images Courtesy of August Buro

More to Love!

A Russian Interior Design Materpiece by Vadim Maltsev
The Idea of Shape: Revisiting Impressions