It is always fascinating to meet professionals, who have achieved great academic success with their research and studies. Each individual, with their respective expertise, enlightens one’s life in an amazing manner. I hold very high respect for individuals, who pursue doctorate in their quest towards perfection in their fields. Honestly, I not only envy them, but also am in awe with their diligence for higher education. Knowledge is the real power to understand life!
Bulgarian architect Dr. Hristo Tritakov is the Co-Founder of ‘Mess is More’ architecture studio, established in 2021 in Sofia, Bulgaria. In the year 2016, he graduated with an integrated Master’s degree in Architecture from UACEG – University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Sofia. In the year 2024, Hristo Tritakov completed his Ph. D in ‘Aquatecture: Potential of Architecture in Water Environment’ from UACEG, Sofia.
Park House
A multiple award-winner, an established author, an architect and an academic professional, Dr. Hristo Tritakov is not only a creative individual, but also committed to better lives of many in the world with his expertise in ‘Aquatecture’. He has researched extensively about existing water settlements worldwide. Simultaneously, Dr. Tritakov has classified architectural projects with a close connection to water according to their design principles. He aims to define ‘aquatecture’ as a necessary evolution of architecture around the world.
Dr. Hristo Tritakov has conducted many experiments in ‘aquatecture’ which aim to prove the effectiveness of his written ideas in practice. One of his major projects called ‘(Under) Water Colony’ is a design proposal for a new habitation placed entirely in water close to Cape Shabla, Bulgaria. The innovative project received great attention and admiration from esteemed judges and fellow peers. In 2016, the project received several awards as the ‘Best Post-Graduate Thesis’ on National level in Bulgaria. At the 6th International Festival of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Design Schools of Eurasia, the project was bestowed with an International Award.
Origami Floating Houses
Johnny D interacts with Dr. Hristo Tritakov at great length about his Doctoral Thesis and life beyond numerous creations.
What was your childhood’s ambition? Have you always wanted to be an architect?
Becoming an architect was not exactly a childhood ambition of mine. I was rather inspired to take this professional path by my family, teachers and friends. I felt that this was the best possible option, because I have always wanted to succeed in a profession that would push me to improve every day and enable me to modify the surrounding world in a more creative, practical and appealing way.
Urban Sprawl Scheme – Futuristic Vision
During my teenage years, TV series showcasing houses of famous architects presenting different concepts about the future of the world has always been very motivating for my personal development. In fact, the project which I prepared for my Master’s degree graduation was also inspired by an episode, which I had watched in my early years on National Geographic. That episode presented the possibility for future human underwater life, which was definitely a memorable visual representation for me.
Later, the recognition of the added value of my Master’s project by the academia revealed another path for my professional growth. What I am referring to is my Doctoral Thesis, which I started and completed thanks to all the support of my family members, friends, colleagues and university mentors. In relation to the latter, the largest contribution to my academic growth was of my Ph. D Supervisor Associate Prof Dr. Aleksandrina Nenkova. She was the person, who guided me in the process of discovering new career opportunities and helped me improve to a large extent my professional skills.
Kiribati Floating House
You have an impressive repertoire with a Ph. D and an Integrated Master’s degree in Architecture from UACEG – University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy in Sofia, Bulgaria. Briefly elucidate your academic quest.
My academic quest for a Ph. D titled ‘Aquatecture’ officially started in 2017. It began with deepening the research of my Master’s degree project called ‘(Under) Water Colony’ located on Cape Shabla, Bulgaria. I completed my Ph. D in March 2024 from the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Sofia, Bulgaria. Since 2019, I have also been a university academic staff member of the Interior and Architectural Design Department of the UACEG’s Faculty of Architecture. There, I have had a chance to meet and motivate a lot of young and creative architectural talents. My role as a mentor is surely a memorable experience and an exciting part of my professional activities, which I am still continuing and learning a lot from it.
Nautical Micro Museum
Elucidate briefly your Ph. D thesis ‘Aquatecture: Potential of Architecture in Water Environment’.
Proximity to the aquatic environment has always been a central component for the birth and the development of civilizations and cities worldwide. This type of location offers an easy and convenient means of transportation, a more favourable climate, better tourism opportunities and almost inexhaustible food and energy resources. In the 21st Century, approximately 40% of the world’s population inhabits in territories extending up to 100km from a surrounding extensive body of water. In fact, all eight billion people in the world are directly or indirectly dependent on the development of the aquatory. The potential use of the latter is explored in detail in my Ph. D thesis.
Deep Sea Science Research Center
The research examines and analyses examples and cases from the world of architectural practice in the following categories:
- Realizations and conceptual ideas for the worldwide application of the architecture in the aquatic environment;
- Existing prototypes of water settlements around the world;
- Retro-futuristic theories based on architectural utopian views from the recent past that examine the architecture in the water context.
Habitat Red Sands Project
The main focus of my Ph. D thesis is the architecture in the aquatic environment. It is a significant means to solving problems on the local and global urban planning levels with a view to achieving the effective utilisation of the aquatory by humans. In turn, the latter requires the allocation of even more resources, the need to secure higher residential comfort, as well as enhanced aesthetics and functionalities. In addition, this type of architecture gets the opportunity to absorb new urban spaces, which are usually available in the water, especially when we are talking about coastal megalopolises.
Habitat Red Sands
Please elaborate on the aims, objectives and inference of your Ph. D thesis.
The main objective of my Ph. D thesis is to demonstrate the actual dimensions and importance of the ‘AQUATECTURE’ to the world’s architectural practice. In turn, this will contribute to realizing that adopting this type of planning is necessary to reveal the full potential of the worldwide utilisation of the aquatic territories.
Habitat Red Sands View
Architecture in the marine environment should be used as a significant tool for solving global, urban planning and social problems in the search for a high-quality living environment that advantages the sustainable and positive future development of human civilization.
The appropriate aquatory use will contribute to developing new perspectives and expanding urban planning ideas, which should be sufficiently predictable and prepared for the rapid increase of the human population in the 21st Century.
Bunker House – Single Family Residence
Looking back in time, ancient civilizations have brilliantly used water bodies such as rivers, ponds, lakes, seas and oceans to their benefits. However, in recent decades, water bodies have become disastrous zones for our modern civilization. Where did we humans go wrong to reach to such a stage today?
Humans nowadays take a lot of things for granted, especially the Nature and its water resources. Unfortunately, our modern civilization is not that advanced to realize its actual negative impact on Planet Earth and to assess how it will become disadvantageous for the future generations.
The optimistic point of view is that it is not too late for our global society to change and reconsider this destructive process. Earth’s positive “green” and “blue” future is possible, thanks to many creative minds and organizations who are developing new technologies, thereby expanding our knowledge on how we humans can live in a much more sustainable way. The main problem here is that mankind takes just small steps towards a better living, although it has the potential and the technology to take big leap forward.
Underwater Residence – Living Area
The world is experiencing a “Global Urban Disaster” because of “Human Greed Crisis / Climate Crisis” as all the major cities in the world are being flooded in an unprecedented manner every single day of the year. How will the “Aquatecture” become the solution to overcome the quintessential global urban disaster?
The ‘AQUATECTURE’ has the potential to create a better interaction between the coastal megalopolises and the aquatory in a way guaranteeing safety even in the worst possible flood scenarios worldwide.
The AQUATORY provides possibilities to generate new ideas which would overturn the conventional land planning standards. Various design projects and international policy efforts related to the mass application of the ‘AQUATECTURE’ would contribute to addressing the global problems resulting from human overpopulation, climate change, as well as shortages of energy and resources. In view of overcoming all those challenges, it would be necessary to reconsider the direction of the development of the global society by achieving a more sustainable way of life and implementing architecture and urbanism of much higher quality.
Underwater Residence – Dining Area
In the coastal cities of the future, urban planners and engineers should think of creating and installing multifunctional emergency water barriers that will provide high standards of safety for city residents. They should also design the urban parks, squares or underground structures with the potential to collect and store large quantities of flood water. Considering the utilitarian use of ‘AQUATECTURE’, there is also a great opportunity to create water-resistant and amphibious buildings, as well as to implement floating city components in the urban fabric.
Taking for example, the flood occurred in April 2024 in the United Arab Emirates. It is clear that humanity is not completely prepared for the worst scenarios, which the Nature could challenge us with. It is the knowledge and the experience in the field of ‘AQUATECTURE’, which could assist mankind in responding to climate change and unfavourable natural disasters threatening the safety of our cities.
Underwater Residence – Bedroom
“The common causes of urban decline can be associated with economic and social activity, as well as demographic and physical modifications.” – Lupton and Power. 2004. Elucidate your perspectives about this apt observation by Lupton and Power in context to “Aquatecture”.
Architects should reconsider the limitations of the conventional architecture facing the dynamically changing city needs, climate change, overpopulation and urban sprawl processes. The ‘AQUATECTURE’ is part of that paradigm shift and we should think of more dynamic urbanism that would exploit Nature and its water reservoirs in a much more sustainable ways.
Underwater Residence – View from the Top
The changes in cities worldwide happen too slowly and are inadequate to meet the constantly changing societal needs. The modern settlements require new and rapidly reconfigurable infrastructure, including movable residential and commercial buildings and multifunctional public spaces. The use of floating urban components in coastal settlements and the possibility for an easy relocation built into their design is a significant means of achieving maximum flexibility in the urban environment.
Aquatecture – Potential + Perspectives by Dr. Hristo Tritova
There is a great opportunity to react adequately to the temporary urban needs by implementing aquatectural planning. For example, ready-to-transport water urban components could be used during world exhibitions, significant cultural events and even to overcome natural disasters and humanitarian crises. Floating hotels and sports facilities, offshore parking and movable pavilion structures are able to secure global events that require the gathering of many people in a short time.
The proper management of the world’s water, as well as the pragmatic fishing and aqua-cultural utilisation of the aquatic areas are of utmost importance. Along with those natural resources, people should develop the complete architectural and urban potential of the key coastal areas worldwide.
Park House Project
Which significant aspects of the global platform ‘zerobeyond – the new frontier!’ did you liked the most, and why?
Along with other aspects, I appreciate mostly the fact that ‘zerobeyond – the new frontier!’ focuses on engaging young professionals in beneficial discussions. The main advantage of the platform, in my view, is that it gathers people from diverse backgrounds and provides them with an opportunity to share their knowledge and exchange experiences with like-minded individuals and experts.
Park House Front View
How would you describe Dr. Hristo Tritakov as a Leader and a Person?
This is probably the most challenging question of all, because I do not feel very comfortable praising myself. I would say briefly that I am a person, who is patient enough to work on his career and personal life by planning systematically. At the same time, I also admire the sharing of knowledge with my colleagues as well as students, and the exchange of good practices with other professionals.
Multi-Family Houses
Please state five recent awards win and honours.
2022: Archinova 2022 Nomination – Category: ‘Projects – Single-Family Residence’ for “House with Bunker 2” designed in partnership with arch. HristoRizov and architect Marina Stoeva;
2022: Archinova 2022 Nomination – Category: ‘Projects – Hotels, Holiday Resorts and Spa Centres’ for “Origami Floating Houses”;
2020: Finalist at YAC – Young Architects Competitions – Project “Kiribati Floating Houses”, the project was designed in a team with arch. Vanina Stancheva;
2020: Archinova 2020 Winner – Category: ‘Conceptual Projects’ for “Habitat Red Sands”, designed in partnership with architect Hristo Rizov;
2019: Dibla Design Awards 2019 Prize – Category: ‘Best Public Interior’ for “Belchin Spring Spa Complex”, designed in a team with Milka Farkova and architect Borislava Manolova.
Scheme representing the Urban Sprawl in Coastal Cities
Image Courtesy: Dr. Hristo Tritakov