{"id":249429,"date":"2025-01-29T11:00:34","date_gmt":"2025-01-29T16:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interiordesign.net\/?post_type=id_news&p=249429"},"modified":"2025-02-25T16:54:49","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T21:54:49","slug":"10-questions-with-yodezeen-artur-sharf","status":"publish","type":"id_news","link":"https:\/\/interiordesign.net\/designwire\/10-questions-with-yodezeen-artur-sharf\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Questions With\u2026 YODEZEEN\u2019s Artur Sharf"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The discreet pink exterior of the Harbour Club in Miami. Photography by Joe Thomas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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January 29, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n

Words: <\/span>Stephen Treffinger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photography: <\/span>Courtesy of YODEZEEN<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

10 Questions With\u2026 YODEZEEN\u2019s Artur Sharf<\/h1>\n\n\n
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Ukrainian architect Artur Sharf originally cofounded the firm YODEZEEN<\/a> at age 22 in Kyiv with his partner Artem Zverev. Fast forward many years later, the studio, now based in Miami, has more than 200 people, with projects underway all around the world, including the United Arab Emirates, Miami, Spain, Aspen, New York City, Warsaw, and, of course Kyiv. The firm\u2019s design language is about refined luxury that eschews trends and is instead timeless\u2014everything from private residences, high-end hotels, offices, and restaurants. In addition, TEYO<\/a>\u2014a brand that specializes in sustainable marble and natural stone from Italy\u2014was founded by Matthew Aurbach with Sharf as creative director. TEYO opened its first ever showroom in Miami in December of last year, and it also serves as TODEZEEN’s Miami headquarters. Sharf sits down with Interior Design to talk about YODEZEEN\u2019s origins and thoughts on their most recents projects.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Artur Sharf.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Artur Sharf Blurs The Line Between Art + Architecture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Interior Design: Can you talk about your original design language and what you wanted to say when you started the firm?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Artur Sharf: We went to university, liked this profession, and wanted to create something nice. My partner and I founded the studio YODEZEEN with the idea of creating bold projects, both visually and in terms of materials, forms, and implementation methods. What I\u2019m proud of is that the foundation we established back then has carried through the 15 years and scaled to a level where we can bring any concept to life\u2014from large penthouses and residential buildings to yachts. From the very beginning, we embraced the mantra of \u201cdream big,\u201d and it has served as a guiding light, continuing to steer us toward new horizons. It\u2019s a passion. It\u2019s also very complicated work if you don’t like it. I think regular people who just go every day to the office cannot survive if they don’t have a passion for their work. And I think it\u2019s why we are successful\u2014because we like what we do. And it\u2019s never work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ID: You had never been outside of Ukraine, and suddenly you were going to all sorts of new places. Did this shift your perspective about design?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

AS: Yes, 100%. Going to university gave us a foundation, of course. But the real creativity, ideas, colors, materials\u2014a lot of it comes from travel. And this is how we understand what people need. When a new restaurant, hotel, or condo opens\u2014we try to go there. And we can see what they did well\u2014and what is not done well\u2014and analyze. We want to see the best places in the world, analyze it, and figure out what will be a success tomorrow. We always stay one step ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The discreet pink exterior of the Harbour Club in Miami. Photography by Joe Thomas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

ID: Tell us about the process of moving to the States?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

AS: After working in our home market, Ukraine, we quickly began expanding into the United States. We knew it would be a different environment, so we took the time in the early years to study and learn. Now, nearly eight years after our first project in Miami, we have experience in various states, working on both residential and commercial projects. With the opening of a 6,500 square foot physical office in the Miami Design District at 25 NW 34th Street, we are deeply rooting ourselves in the U.S. architecture and design market, building modern projects that we are excited to share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ID: You have become very successful in the States and worldwide. What\u2019s your secret?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

AS: There is no secret. We started small and worked very hard. In the beginning, no one will give you a big project. You start with a small apartment and, little by little, you begin to get larger projects. Growth is slow, and each project takes a long time\u2014to get from paper to reality, and then construction. It can take like four years. And then you have to put the project out there, which can take time before people see it. Eventually, you have more to show the world what you can do, projects that you are proud of. We have grown a lot in nine years. We have talent, of course, but that\u2019s not enough. There are a lot of factors. Yes, you need talented people around you, but you also need to be precise, to be in control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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YODEZEEN was tasked with creating an interior that would not only complement LaNoma\u2019s Italian-inspired menu but also embody the restaurant\u2019s philosophy of fostering community and connection through shared meals. Photography by Fran Parente.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

ID: How is it different and what did being in a place like Miami bring that was special?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

AS: I feel free here. Many people who come to us are from somewhere else, too. Our work is roughly 40% in the US, 40% in the Middle East, and 20% in Europe. One thing I find is that there is more paperwork here than in other places. America likes a lot of paperwork. Permit after permit, so many documents for everything. But it\u2019s becoming easier. Our local team has learned a lot in eight years. But Miami\u2014and America in general\u2014is also more open. If an idea makes sense, you can explain it to people and get their approval. You can make things happen and realize your ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ID: You have opened a separate company from YODEZEEN called TEYO that offers sourcing, design, fabrication, and installation of natural stone. Can you tell me about that?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

AS: We\u2019ve worked a lot in stone over the last seven years\u2014and have done a lot of custom projects for our clients\u2014so we decided to make a furniture collection and materials brand using marble, travertine, onyx, limestone, and more. Last September, we opened a 6,500-square-foot showroom in Miami that will serve as an exclusive showcase for the designs\u2014as well as a design studio, sales office, and lounge in the Design District. It was founded by me and Matthew Auerbach. We wanted to create things that interpret and enhance the beauty of the stone while maintaining its natural look, to serve as a new reference point for architects, designers, and developers to help realize projects of the highest caliber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nikai at Harbour Club. Photography by Joe Thomas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

ID: Your design for the Harbour Club in Miami is based on traditional European social clubs. How did you combine that vibe with the Miami scene?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

AS: The Habour Club founder, James Julius, who has worked on places like the Dorchester Hotel and Annabel\u2019s in London, had the idea to create a restaurant and private club with a mix of the two cultures and aesthetics. For the Habour Club, there are three different experiences that combine the coastal beauty of Miami with a more international feeling. The first floor is inspired by open spaces typical of beachfront homes: minimalist, with light oak and linen, soft blues that remind you of the sea. The VIP room is more intimate and private. It\u2019s more European\/Italian, with velvet upholstery, dark wood, and marble\u2014all in dark green and warm metallics. The second floor is for nightlife, with Miami energy and bold, dynamic colors\u2014deep red, electric blue, gold\u2014and reflective surfaces for a clubby feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ID: You recently finished a project in Fort Lee, New Jersey, for LaNoma restaurant. What were the challenges with that project?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

AS: It can be difficult to get people from Manhattan to come to a restaurant outside the city. But the owners wanted to have a cozy, family place that was as good as something you\u2019d find in New York. They asked for an open kitchen with a wood-burning oven and grill. The ceilings were about 18-feet-high, so to make it more intimate, we put in some beams and a lot of greenery in the form of olive trees. We put in a sliding glass system so you can open it in summer and people can eat outside. To make the space feel warmer, we used brown leather seating and stained oak accents., and incorporated a subtle leaf pattern into the decorative plaster walls. The bar and open kitchen are surrounded by white and grey marble from TEYO. The place is a big success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ID: Why do you think the LaNoma project worked out so well?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

AS: It is, of course, very expensive to open a restaurant. There are so many people involved. You have to buy furniture, equipment, plus food and a lot of wine. So, sometimes people will try to save money by not spending a lot on the design and interiors. That is why there are so many bad restaurants. Our philosophy is that you have to take the risk. You\u2019re already spending so much. And I think a restaurant with a good interior as well as good food will survive much better. People often cheap out on materials, but it\u2019s not a lot in the scheme of things. You need to do everything the best in order to survive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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To make the space more intimate, YODEZEEN added olive trees and brown leather seating. Photography by Fran Parente.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n