Interview with Susanne Brandherm and Sabine Krumrey

Susanne Brandherm and Sabine Krumrey have successfully pursued a common path for 25 years. Their goal: to take the world of interiors to a new level with their team at brandherm + krumrey interior architecture. They can do it! International clients and dozens of design awards are impressive proof of this. In an interview with Brigitte Jurczyk, we look back at our beginnings, what drives us and our highlights of the past 25 years.
“Fortunately, we were careless”
You’ve been winning design awards for years, and your projects come from both domestic and international clients. What’s your formular for success?
Susanne Brandherm: It’s certainly a mix of many components.
Sabine Krumrey: Above all, the two of us have always pulled together. That may have been the most important point. We always strived for the same thing over the years and really pushed each other.
Susanne Brandherm: We each have our strengths and we complement each other perfectly. What’s more, we love challenges and have never shied away from them.
Sabine Krumrey: Plus, we have a consistent, long-standing mega team that we can rely on 100 percent.
Susanne Brandherm: …and our own style, to which we have remained true. Whether it’s a private home, office, hospital, doctor’s surgery, store, hotel or restaurant – together with the team, we develop a very individual concept for each client, which always bears our special, recognisable signature.
What has changed for you over these 25 years?
Sabine Krumrey: A lot. When we started out in Cologne, it was just the two of us. Today, bki has two branches in Cologne and Hamburg and the duo of Susanne and Sabine has grown into a large team of 30 great employees who implement projects at home and abroad.
Susanne Brandherm: The role of women in the construction world has also changed for the better. I can still remember how we were referred to as “girls” on the building site back then, even though we were the principals of bki. Nobody would dare to do that today.
How did you actually get to know each other?
Sabine Krumrey: During a private BBQ party (both laugh). We liked each other straight away. A short time later, I moved from Nuremberg to Cologne…
Susanne Brandherm: …and so we moved into an office together and things got going. Even though we didn’t really know each other yet. Pretty careless – fortunately!
Can you still remember your first job?
Sabine Krumrey: That was quite funny! An architect called me and asked if we could plan a convention centre at the Estrel Hotel. I answered straight away: “Sure, we can definitely do that!” and immediately tried to get in touch with Susanne.
Susanne Brandherm: That was in the middle of the night. I was in Los Angeles for private reasons and Sabine woke me up from a deep sleep because of the time difference.
Sabine Krumrey: I said: “Susi, I’ve just received a request for a convention centre. Are you in?” Susanne just said: “Yes, of course!” That was the initial spark for brandherm + krumrey interior architecture.
Susanne Brandherm: Incidentally, the Hotel Estrel in Berlin is still our client – and has been for 25 years.
What have been special highlights for you over the past 25 years?
Susanne Brandherm: To have had the opportunity to grow to such an extent and now have such a fantastic team. And the connection to the projects we have implemented: the 4711 Museum in Cologne, the World Pharmacy at the Expo in Hanover and, of course, the Estrel, projects we did in the very early days, are certainly among the highlights.
Sabine Krumrey: And, of course, the fact that we have been able to develop our quality standards, our love of detail and our visions, such as for the transformation of working environments or for the healthcare sector, and realize them with our clients.
What is your outlook on the next 25 years?
Sabine Krumrey: Well, I believe we will be working in this exciting environment for a long time to come. It’s simply so much fun.
Susanne Brandherm: We are currently developing the ideas of what bki could look like in the future…