This 860

By Bettina Krause

Photography by Luca Girardini

Imagine an artist's apartment. What comes to mind for many is a chaos of paint brushes, sketches, and works in progress. This Berlin apartment, however, is proof that cliché does not always hold water. The home of a multimedia artist, it is located in the Kreuzberg neighborhood, long famous as a lively bohemian quarter. Fundbüro Design, founded by Elena Lamata and Alex Guijarro in 2017, approached the renovation of the unit with the concept of contrasts in mind. The gray of Germany's capital would meet the home's warm hues and the historic details of the 1875 building would be paired with the apartment's clean geometric lines.

"We got the contract to design the apartment when mutual friends recommended us to the owner. There were some hiccups with the renovation by the construction company, and the client asked us to take over the whole project—from construction to interior design. It is an option we always offer to our clients because it is the best way to guarantee the overall quality of the project," says Elena.

The custom Axis lamp by Rlon hanging above the dining table emphasizes the apartment's clean lines. The chairs and mirrored table are, in typical Berlin fashion, flea market finds.

The tiled kitchen island provides an intentional counterpoint to the apartment's vintage furniture. It serves as a bar for parties and events and a place to prepare meals on the average day. The neon lamp hanging above the island is another flea market find.

In each room, the design duo highlighted a bespoke element that defines that space and—as Elena and Alex put it—represents a break with traditional ideas of what an apartment should be. In the open kitchen, the white-tiled kitchen island catches everyone's eye. "We decided to cover it with a special edition of classic 10-by-10-inch tiles that include rounded edges to create an even stronger contrast with the historic details of the home," says Alex. Functionally, the sculptural object serves the needs of the clients, who often uses his home for events and receptions. "He initially wanted to have a kitchen separate from the living room. We suggested instead creating a large opening between the two spaces for more flexibility and adding the island as a multipurpose focal point. Sometimes it serves as a kitchen island, and other times as a bar for events—it even includes an icebox for food and drinks," says Elena.

For his 860-square-foot Berlin apartment, the resident wanted a modern interior with warm hues that would create a welcoming atmosphere in the gray capital.

The designers broke up the clinical white of the kitchen walls with a bright red stripe above the countertops and the bold blue of the cabinets. In the pink living room, the same shade of blue reappears on the sofa by Noah Living. The cross-shaped lamp above the dining table was made especially for the apartment by Berlin-based design studio Rlon. "It emphasizes the idea of contrasts which is central to this particular home," says Alex. Creating visual connections between spaces, both for functional and aesthetic ends, was also an important part of the design concept.

"The public areas were a priority to accommodate the client's parties," says Alex. "That's why we connected the living room and kitchen and added a large, tiled island that can also be used as a bar for events."

By Erika Owen

By Rachel Davies

By Eva Morell

Clear and simple: The elegant bar cart and the metal vase on it lower shelf are by BoConcept. The ceramic and glass vases on the shelves to the right are by Bolia.

In addition to the bedroom with its dressing area defined by geometric openings in the walls and its sheer curtains, the apartment has a recording studio, which doubles as a guest room. The home's highlight, however, is arguably the spa-like bathroom. The floor is a pink terrazzo while Fundbüro Design used bright yellow tiles on the 11-and-a-half-foot-tall walls, giving the room a sense of volume and warmth. Here, too, old and new elements meet: "An old wooden beam that we discovered during demolition was a big surprise. Since it was in good condition, we decided to keep it and restore it. It was a way to add another historical element that contrasts with the new ones of the design," says Elena.

Vintage vases found at a flea market are joined by a Hoop lamp by 101 Copenhagen on a Sol side table by Classicon. With its calm colors, the bedroom has a relaxing atmosphere.

By Erika Owen

By Rachel Davies

By Eva Morell

The geometric shapes on the wall separating the bedroom and the dressing area are the most notable feature of the room. The openings are not merely decorative, but functional too.

The design team's primary goal was to create an artist's home using natural materials. "In addition, we used historic elements such as the original doors and period light fixtures that maintain the classic character of the building," says Alex. The apartment reflects the city where it is located with its colorful palette, playful spirit, and surprising contrasts. "We think the most typical thing about Berlin is the contrast between modernity and tradition," says Elena. "For us, Berlin is a city of contrasts, where the latest trends and the most eccentric people live together with the long history of the city and unassuming locals. This inspires us, and we try to convey this in all our projects."

Bright yellow tiles cover the 11-and-a-half-foot walls in the bathroom.

By Erika Owen

By Rachel Davies

By Eva Morell

An original beam is a treasure that the design team discovered during the renovation of the apartment. They integrated it into the project as it fit perfectly into their overall concept of uniting old and new.

This story was first published by AD Germany.