Studio Modijefsky is an interior architecture studio founded by Esther Stam in 2009. Its home in the center of Amsterdam hosts an international team of architects and interior designers who provide a total creative service for spatial interventions for clients that range from hotels to boutiques and bars to spas. The nine women that currently form the studio carefully design everything that is seen, passed and touched by a visitor for the duration of their stay whether it’s five seconds or five hours.

Yinjspace：What imbue your interest for design?

Modijefsky：It’s part of the studio’s ultimate goal to reinvent the way people interact with an interior. By relating design to the location’s context (whether natural or urban) and playing with the composition of texture and materials, light and routing, height and depth, sight, and tactility Studio Modijefsky creates spatial experiences that surpass all expectations and create valuable new memories.

Yinjspace：How do you define your design spirit?

Modijefsky：Every Modijefsky project is unique thanks to a rigorous creative process that’s rooted in each location. The site – not just the building but also the local environment - is carefully researched and analyzed to reveal and embellish the location’s story. An equal amount of attention is given to the brand or inhabitant of the new space in determining how their attributes, character and heritage can be translated into a relevant, appealing spatial design and experience.

The next step is to consider how the space could and should be used. Height, width, lines of sight, routing, light and sight are explored and optimized in a spatial design in which everything is related to the location and brand’s unique character. Finally, the entire creative process is presented to the client in a book that tells the history of the location and its future design. The worlds Studio Modijefsky creates need to make sense until the very last detail. Achieving this level of quality requires a large team of professionals - not just designers but painters, electricians, craftsmen, light makers, shop fitters, and contractors – pushing their limits to perform at their best. This level of collaboration is only possible with regular contact, so Studio Modijefsky regularly visits building sites and workshops where the interior and its contents are made to ensure optimum quality.

Yinjspace：How do you think the change of commercial space design when the mega trends Is over?

Modijefsky：I find this question a bit hard; we are not focused on mega trends so also not working on an a future approach when mega trends are over….

Yinjspace：We appreciate very much of your color application in your work, what is your principle for choosing the basic color of the space?

Modijefsky：I don’t think we have one.We investigate the context of each space. See if there are any specific materials or colors that are used in the architecture, that relate to the past of the building, materials that are used often in the area because of certain natural sources like clay or wood or something else, or some colours or materials that fit in the cultural environment of the space.

This way, we start with one material or a color range, from there, we work quite intuitive- selecting materials and colors that form a certain ambiance together. A combination of certain colors can enhance a very specific mood. And also; a color appearing as a paint on the wall is something totally different from the same color seen in a piece of marble. A very soft texture give a color a different character than a glossy finish. The light that is shining on the color can bring out a color or tone it down.. also depending on the color of the light, if its direct or indirect and what time it is if we are talking about daylight…

Yinjspace：What materials you like? How to bring it into play in the space?

Modijefsky：We very much like natural materials. Whether it would be stone or wood, leather or glass, a certain type of metal or a specific pigment or paint.

The application and use of each material is endless. If you treat a metal sheet in a way it has a very matte finish, it has a different appeal then when its polished and reflects all its surroundings. Using fabric on the walls or ceiling gives the space a softer character and influences the acoustics in the space; making the visitor experience the space in a very different way then when the space is finished with hard materials like tiles and mirror.

Yinjspace：In custom design, what are you most concerned about?

Modijefsky：Details! And a strong design language. I absolutely love to design as many custom pieces and elements as possible. Making the design fit like a glove to its new inhabitants.

Yinjspace：Do you ever know anything about oriental design? How do you view the design trends around the world nowadays?

Modijefsky：I have little knowledge on oriental design. I love a lot of Japanese architecture projects, I have seen and hope to enjoy more of ancient oriental heritage; buildings sites etc, and would love to learn more about philosophy, techniques, materials used in architecture and design in the orient.

I don’t have a big focus on trends; of course I see what is going on in the world and react on it, but we want to design spaces that relate to their contexts; react on its history and meet the requirements of its new inhabitants. This makes our designs site specific, and therefore less about trends.