The Architect’s Chair / Edition #4 competition 1st Prize winner - Sergei Grigorev

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce the 1st Prize winner of The Architect’s Chair / Edition #4 competition – Sergei Grigorev from the Cyprus!

Sergei Grigorev

Please tell us about your company (when it was founded, where it is based, how many employees, etc) Alternatively, if you do not have a company, please give us some insights on your own professional/academia background.

My name is Sergey Grigorev. For about twenty years I have been working on interior design for public spaces, private clients, and exhibition projects. I am also the co-founder of a small design studio.

Brief information about the projects that you/your company have been involved with. For instance, what scale have you focused on/preferred, any significant projects where the company/ individuals have been Involved?

About a year ago, I decided to expand my practice and try something new. I began developing and building furniture prototypes myself, learning woodworking and other related skills. I wanted not only to place beautiful objects in interiors, but also to be involved in creating them. Since then, this new direction has become an important part of my work, and it inspires me a lot.

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect in your society?

This question could easily be the topic of a long interview. I’ll try to narrow it down to the subject of chairs. Designing a chair and architecture have much more in common than it may seem at first glance. I love designing chairs—they offer incredible depth and freedom, even after decades of design history, when it feels like everything has already been invented. At the same time, there are many limits and conditions that must be respected, from ergonomics and aesthetics to budget and production methods.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

I do not have experience with furniture competitions yet, but I do have successful experience with interior competitions. For a beginner, competitions are one of the few ways to receive objective feedback from a professional community rather than from social media users.

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture competitions?

Even if you do not win, it is still a form of evaluation and a useful result—the only question is the fairness and professionalism of the jury. This competition feels different from many others: it does not hand out “winner” stamps to almost everyone but instead selects the finalists more carefully and individually. My main goal is feedback, not a prize or promotional label.