We make architects' work easier, says Petr Kunt from Archtiles

“Archtiles is a group of people united not only by several personality traits but also by rich experiences and knowledge about tiles, pavements, and mosaics,” says Petr Kunt, one of the founders of the company ARCHTILES – ARCHITECTS SUPPORT, which celebrated its first anniversary with not only a new website but also exclusive representation of a number of unique products and series. According to Petr Kunt and his colleagues, a brief description of the company that would not be a cliché does not exist. However, the whole team is aware of its role, which consists of providing answers not only to architects. “And that requires perfectly understanding the question and providing a comprehensive, truthful, thorough, and concise answer,” clarifies Petr Kunt.

“We all realize that we work with chefs, and they do not go shopping in supermarkets but in establishments where things are prepared precisely as they wish. And that’s us. Personal approach is generally a cliché, it’s a phrase, but we don’t take it that way. For us, this phrase has a very concrete and personal meaning. Besides, we can say that we are a relatively exceptional team of friends.”


In your logo, “architects support” appears, what do you mean by that?
We understand ceramic tiles and coverings as a material that has accompanied humanity for centuries. In its true essence, it is an indispensable part of both interiors and exteriors. And we are here to create a kind of organized overview of the best out of the huge number of manufacturers, products, styles, sizes, and colors, thus making it easier for architects to work.

Could you at least describe what you want to achieve with your work? What drives Archtiles?
We don’t have standard goals like a classic business firm, where we want to achieve certain turnovers, precisely defined numbers, or be the biggest company on the market.
Our driving force is that we can become a small part of the works that our clients are working on… that both emerging architects and renowned names turn to us, and it’s up to us whether they return with trust next time or avoid us completely.
Additionally, ceramic tiles and coverings can be perceived differently than just as necessary equipment for restrooms or paving hallways. We try to show that they can be used, for instance, in massive formats for facades, in minimalist formats for the decoration of living spaces, and so on… we try to surprise the chefs so they can surprise their clients as well.

When you look back now, after a year, do you feel that you have fulfilled everything you promised to yourselves from the beginning?
Unpretentiously but cautiously, I must say that our first year went much better than we expected. It doesn’t mean, however, that we must do equally well in the next one. Every time something is new, many people, in our case architects, come to try out the offered services and products, and only the following years will show how we are really doing. However, our company has also significantly expanded, that is, doubled, so the team is no longer as small as it was at the beginning.

Showroom Prague, Rosmarin business center, Dělnická 12

And now, setting modesty aside. What you have achieved in one year is indeed a success. What is the secret of it? The market has been mapped and your competition most likely also has a desire to work.
I see the foundation of success in the collective... in the people and their motivation. We are fortunate that our goal is not to make as much money as quickly as possible. Such a business plan can be sensed a hundred miles away from many firms… Ours is rather based on a kind of self-satisfaction from providing a service that someone genuinely wants, which may help people or at least make their work easier. Simply put, when someone trusts you based on your knowledge and experience, that in itself is a success... or isn’t it?

How did you start a year ago?
It was in a restaurant in Holešovice. Not because of its good cuisine, but we chose it because it has a laptop socket under every table and no limited wi-fi, which were our only criteria. Then we continued with six people in a tiny office, but we quickly succeeded in building a large studio in the ROSMARIN business center at Dělnická 12. The entire first year is essentially a kind of beginning, so I will count the opening of the branch in Brno a few months ago as part of it.

When did the turning point come when things started to go well for you? Or did everything go smoothly from the start?
We are not complete beginners who decided to sell tiles. I personally have been working in the field for about thirteen years, having worked for Italian ceramics firms as a sales representative, so I have mapped the market. Moreover, the direction we want to take was clearly defined in advance, and, thanks to experience, the product range, and personal connections, the start was relatively quick.

You don’t have a classic showroom with a window to the street, but you are a bit hidden in the ROSMARIN office center. So people can’t just stumble upon you “from the street”?
It’s not easy for end clients to discover a ceramic tiles showroom on the 7th floor of an administrative building… Not that we would refuse any fortunate visitors, but we need to offer architects and their clients privacy and a certain comfort, which cannot be achieved in a shop accessible from the street. Most end clients get to us on the recommendation of an architect or come directly in their company. However, anyone who visits us is a valued client.

And what would you wish for your valued clients and the metaphorical “chefs” in conclusion?
I would like to wish all architects a peaceful Christmas in this not at all easy time, plenty of strength for the new year, and as many enlightened investors as possible. I would also like to wish Archiweb as many readers as possible and may it maintain and strengthen its leading position among professional websites.

Thank you not only for the wishes but for the entire interview.