Off-Kilter Minimalism: Vaders Dye Tattoo Studio in Hamburg by Deglan Studios.

Building on their work for Lillian Von Trapp’s jewellery atelier and Chi Chi Club beauty clinic, Deglan Studios devised an unobtrusive space with a major impact for their latest project—Vaders Dye tattoo studio in Hamburg.

The artist-architect duo behind Deglan, Domenic Degner and Falko Landenberger, specialise in handcrafted collectible design pieces and unique interiors, merging them into a symbiotic “Gesamtkunstwerk”—a German word we now know to mean ‘total work of art’, which rocks.

Approached by Melina Wendlandt, a fine-line tattoo artist and founder of Vaders Dye, the brief was to bring Deglan’s signature off-kilter minimalism and experience in the wellness and retail sector to a tattoo studio that is accessible to everyone.

“The goal was to develop a product that particularly appeals to lifestyle-oriented customers who would not just go to any tattoo studio,” Domenic and Falko explain. “It was about the lifestyleisation and aestheticisation, and thus the normalisation of cultural beauty practices or features through interior design.”

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Given complete creative freedom by Melina, the tricky part was respecting the functional requirements needed for the space. Due to the unusual floor plan and the position of the staircase in the middle of the room, the original interior felt chaotic. Deglan made a few simple reconfigurations—moving the bathroom downstairs and creating a proper reception area to improve flow and maximise the floor space. The treatment beds, which are usually in the way, are now able to be folded when not in use and hidden behind huge movable mirrors.

Since the room was very deep and dark, a calm and bright colour palette was utilised alongside a limited material selection. The walls are finely plastered with lime and partially sanded, and the floor is made of lacquered cast asphalt. The material palette featured Italian travertine in shades of beige, grey, and brown. Stainless steel was used sparingly in the bathroom and kitchen, contrasting with the natural stone and timber objects treated with Shou Sugi Ban.

The designers used collectible design objects to add a sense of contrast to the interior. Pieces like the liquid metal coffee table and burnt oak shelves offer the space an unusual edge. From chaos to calm, this tattoo studio offers an experience akin to an upmarket beauty clinic.

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[Images courtesy of Deglan Studios. Photography by Eric Petschek.]