APARTMENT S in Berlin by Thomas Kroger Architects

I know what you’re thinking – surely this is a shop, and not someone’s place, right? Wrong. This is definitely someone’s home, and I was just as surprised about it as you are… at least until I spotted the bedroom and the bathroom. Alas, this second floor heritage apartment in Berlin is the work of avant-garde practice Thomas Kröger Architects, who converted the existing bourgeoisie interior into a flamboyant home for a fashion designer.

The new kitchen sits in the old living room, with the existing fireplace encased in the back wall and lined with copper sheets. This has resulted in a kitchen which literally unfolds like a robe from the wall. So James Bond! The existing ceiling above features custom copper pendants, strategically placed to highlight the copper counter below, allowing the joinery to glow and shine.

“As the largest rooms are used to serve the user as a framework, it is the smallest ones whose formulations are the most magnificent,” explain Thomas Kröger Architects.

The bathroom shines rich with materials: blue glass panels are framed in bronze, vanity cabinet and floors clad in natural stone. The recessed cupboards in the bedroom feature a reflective enclosure in a daring shade of purple.

At the end of the day, this aesthetic may not be everyone’s cup of tea, particularly given the often homogenised world of design. Having said that, I can’t help but applaud the designers for pushing the envelope and stretching my aesthetic sensibilities to the outer edges of what feels super comfortable. Sure, the bathroom feels like it’s dropped straight out of an early-90s luxury hotel chain, but that kitchen – well… It certainly made me look twice, and in the process, made me realise that taking design risks and following your heart can pay off big time. Hats off to Thomas Kröger and his crew.