Ester Bruzkus has been interested in design for as long as she can remember. When the young aesthete was 12 years old she began collecting Vogue magazine because she wanted to know what was happening in the world of fashion.
She eventually explored other creative realms, and her ninth grade art teacher?s guidance was instrumental. Trips to museums and galleries supplemented her coursework, and the instructor encouraged Bruzkus to participate in programs for talented students. When Bruzkus was 16 she had already decided to become an architect, because she wanted to make more than just objects or paintings ? she was determined to create a more beautiful world.
Based in Berlin, Bruzkus founded her eponymous firm, Ester Bruzkus Architekten, in 2002, and partner (in business and life) Peter Greenberg joined her in 2016. The duo focuses on work at different scales, from residences to hotels, often decorated with furniture designed by the team. There were so many requests for those pieces that Bruzkus opened STUDIO COUCOU, an online shop with a curated selection of bespoke furnishings and favorite finds. Ester Bruzkus \ Photo: Debora Mittelstaedt
All of these endeavors are part of a holistic approach that she discovered before she headed to university. As a German cultural representative at Disney World in Florida, Bruzkus learned about backstage operations, and more importantly, how to enhance the guest experience. It was a role that informs her work today as a designer tasked wi...