Later, the years she lived in New York led her to discover a new world and a passion for interior architecture. In 2009, she created Studio Modijefsky, where every day she reinvents the way people interact with spaces.

ALEXANDRA NOVO The essence of Studio Modijefsky is to reinvent the way people interact with interiors. How do you achieve this new communication with space? ESTHER STAM (STUDIO MODIJEFSKY) By establishing a relationship between design and the context of the location (being it natural or urban), playing with the composition of textures, materials, light and navigational circuits, weight and depth, sight and touch, we generate spatial experiences that surpass all expectations and create new and valuable memories. Ten years after the creation of the studio, I am still fascinated by the challenges and possibilities of creating spaces around people. In fact, people are at the centre of everything I do, whether in my personal approach to work or in the rich human compositions we imagine. All our projects are the result of an insatiable curiosity, passion for craft and commitment to collaborative work. There is always a new technique to be studied, a new insight to be gained. Even if it’s a simple kayak factory, I can’t walk past a workshop without going in to talk to those who are producing. Knowing how something is made, be it the space itself or the objects that fill it, unlocks insights that create unique designs rooted in each specific location.

How do the locations, buildings and surroundings define the basis of your projects? Studio Modijefsky believes in connecting the past and the spirit of a place to the way it engages with its audience which, in turn, generates very rich holistic designs. What we do is investigate all the data about the place and transform it into a new formula, a new design language. For me, this is where the magic lies and it’s also the hardest part. It allows us to create something unique, that fits because it is site-specific.