A restricted, challenging apartment in a Berlin altbau, the German word for “historic building,” proved to be a creative opportunity for local architecture firm Some Place Studio. The firm approached the renovation of the home’s kitchen and bath in the city’s Kreuzberg district by relying on custom built-ins to navigate the tricky floorplan. The result of the project, dubbed Blue Steel Reno, is a contrasting and contemporary re-imagination.
The kitchen’s floorplan most resembled the Berliner zimmer, a typology of awkward Berlin rooms that arose from 19th-century tenement buildings. Bika Rebek, Some Place Studio’s founder and principal shared with AN Interior, “The geometry of the kitchen was the biggest challenge. There were no right angles, so we had to 3D scan the space to get accurate measurements. Even then, with such precise built-ins, quite a few elements needed adjustment on site.” She continued, “The most rewarding moment was when all the built-ins were finally in place and fitting perfectly. That’s when the space really came together and took on its very custom, polished feel.”
When approaching the kitchen, Some Place Studio juxtaposed geometry and materiality. The original beige plaster walls and wooden parquet flooring, revealed after removing tiles, were thoughtfully preserved and act as a soft base for the custom built-ins. Meanwhile, tucked underneath one large rectangular window, a typical feature in a Berliner zimmer, is new, curvy upholstery in blue. It forms a banquette, creating a cozy and colorful corner in the kitchen.
Next to it, a sleek and shiny steel countertop accompanied with gray valchromat cabinetry offers a contrasting yet similar contemporary edge to the space. Despite the modern additions, Some Place Studio wanted to also incorporate connections to the historic structure, continuing its contradictory design language. One way the team did that was by adding locally sourced vintage lamps from the 1970s and 1980s throughout the kitchen.
For the bathroom, the architects were challenged with a narrow, impractical and windowless space. Some Place Studio furthered the kitchen’s beige base by covering the surfaces with light-colored microcement. Custom built-in storage is placed above the quiet, rectangular sink. To solve the lack of natural light in this room, the design team added a large square recessed lighting in the wall opposite from the sink to mimic daylight. The lux addition is versatile as the brightness and tone can be adjusted.
Blue Steel Reno’s project name is a mashup, highlighting the contrasting elements used in the project. Rebek described the renovation as, “sleek and cozy at the same time.” Blue Steel Reno marries both old and new, and contemporary and vintage through thoughtful design.