Hristo Totsev

Dry stone waller

©RosinaPencheva

Reviving dry stone walling

Hristo is the only certified dry stone waller in Bulgaria
By reusing stones, he preserves the spirit and knowledge of previous craftsmen and moves them onward
Hе places a special element in each of his constructions to provoke interest and contemplation

Hristo Totsev is a self-taught dry stone waller with a Master’s degree in Cultural Heritage and a Bachelor’s degree in History. Since 2016 he has been a professional member of the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain and the only certified dry stone waller in Bulgaria. The minute Hristo touched the stone he knew this was his future. He developed his skills through practice, self-observation and reflection. His signature approach is to use only natural stone, with little or no interference with its original form. Hristo opposes the permanent to the temporary as the two sides to experiencing the craft of dry stone walling. The advantages of this approach to wall building are numerous: the structures are ecological and sustainable, protecting the landscape and biodiversity. In 2018, dry stone walling was added to the UNESCO representative list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Most recently, Hristo has been working to establish an exhibition and professional learning centre to share his expertise.

Interview

©RosinaPencheva

©RosinaPencheva

What motivates you to pursue dry stone walling?: The challenge to work with stone in the hardest possible way is what keeps me motivated. I want to learn the old techniques. It is very difficult and you are able to make complicated constructions only when you gain a lot of experience.
What kind of stone do you prefer to use?: I prefer natural, wild stone or a stone that has already been shaped and hewn by an old mason. For me reusing the stone does not concern only the material, but the efforts, the emotions, the passion and the energy behind its shape. This is how I preserve ancient work and effort without destroying the connection to the past.
Do you have any rituals?: A craftsman should think many steps ahead. I walk and talk to myself, I talk to the stones and look around. There are some quite special stones that you always separate from the rest and make special place for.
What is your dream wall?: A more difficult and more complex wall in terms of construction. A wall I could design in advance and showcase to someone who would welcome it as part of them. Masters of dry stone walling do not hide their skills, but rather gladly share them.

Hristo Totsev is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2013 and he started teaching in 2022