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A Former Pub is Transformed into a Modern, Light and Stylish Home
Would you live in an old bar? One architect proved that, with clever design, a stylish home can be magicked from an unpromising space
The Schluckspecht, a bar in the Friedenau district of Berlin, was a legendary local institution for more than 20 years. Here you could sip a cocktail, play a game of pool, or just chat with other people from the neighbourhood. And then, all of a sudden, it was up for sale on an online property site.
‘I recognised the bar right away,’ explains architect Swen Burgheim. ‘Some of my friends used to work there.’ Burgheim just happened to be looking for the perfect space for a couple from Munich. ‘They really wanted a penthouse, but apartments on the ground floor are often much cheaper. And we saw real potential in the space,’ he adds. So instead of up, they went down.
Once the former bar was gutted, the space was divided into new zones, a subfloor was installed, and interesting lighting was designed. Now the space is a stylish home with a cool loft ambience.
‘I recognised the bar right away,’ explains architect Swen Burgheim. ‘Some of my friends used to work there.’ Burgheim just happened to be looking for the perfect space for a couple from Munich. ‘They really wanted a penthouse, but apartments on the ground floor are often much cheaper. And we saw real potential in the space,’ he adds. So instead of up, they went down.
Once the former bar was gutted, the space was divided into new zones, a subfloor was installed, and interesting lighting was designed. Now the space is a stylish home with a cool loft ambience.
The suspended ceiling was removed, which means the space today gets 5ft extra air at the top, with the overall ceiling height now standing at 17ft. Old industrial windows were installed in the masonry between the kitchen and living room to enable light to penetrate deep into the rooms.
To prevent the rest of the loft from steaming up during cooking, the kitchen’s newly installed doors can be closed. ‘When renovating, I always take great care to remain loyal to the building’s era. The doors may be new here, but they are historic originals,’ explains Burgheim.
To prevent the rest of the loft from steaming up during cooking, the kitchen’s newly installed doors can be closed. ‘When renovating, I always take great care to remain loyal to the building’s era. The doors may be new here, but they are historic originals,’ explains Burgheim.
‘The 13ft windows allow for tons of light to come in. And while sitting at the dinner table in the evening, you can even see the moon,’ says Burgheim.
The architect had the classic steel window frames sandblasted and left them exposed. First he put in new windows and then coloured the remaining old frames with an anthracite powder coating, so they would match the new ones. This means they also go perfectly with the old industrial windows he installed between the kitchen and living room.
The architect had the classic steel window frames sandblasted and left them exposed. First he put in new windows and then coloured the remaining old frames with an anthracite powder coating, so they would match the new ones. This means they also go perfectly with the old industrial windows he installed between the kitchen and living room.
‘Most architects go from the outside in – I go from the inside out,’ says Bergheim. ‘When designing a property, I like to consider how my clients like to live. If cooking is their thing, then I make the kitchen the centre of attention, as is the case here.’
‘Because the couple have no children, we had a lot of freedom with regard to the design and could make the rooms as open as we liked,’ says Burgheim.
The front of the space, containing the kitchen-diner, is accessible via the front door and has a uniquely open feel. It’s separated from the street by a small front garden, the likes of which one typically finds in Friedenau. On the other hand, pedestrians can catch a glimpse inside as they walk by, if they so wish.
The front of the space, containing the kitchen-diner, is accessible via the front door and has a uniquely open feel. It’s separated from the street by a small front garden, the likes of which one typically finds in Friedenau. On the other hand, pedestrians can catch a glimpse inside as they walk by, if they so wish.
The kitchen is from Häcker, but the architect had the concrete worktop custom-made. The industrial shelving came from an old locksmith’s shop in Brandenburg.
‘We decided on coated screed for the floor around the kitchen island. It’s crazy how expensive screed is in Germany. Here you pay €150 [£118] for 10 sq ft. In Cape Town, for example, where coated screed is used for most floors, the same amount costs only €15 [£12]. It’s like pouring gold,’ Burgheim laughs.
An original bunker door next to the shelves, painted white, leads to a small pantry.
‘We decided on coated screed for the floor around the kitchen island. It’s crazy how expensive screed is in Germany. Here you pay €150 [£118] for 10 sq ft. In Cape Town, for example, where coated screed is used for most floors, the same amount costs only €15 [£12]. It’s like pouring gold,’ Burgheim laughs.
An original bunker door next to the shelves, painted white, leads to a small pantry.
Oiled white oak floorboards have been laid down in the eating area and the rest of the ground floor.
The dinner table, an original design by Burgheim, is made from old industrial trestles and an oak top. ‘Before, I used to make most of the pieces myself. But eventually I started working with an extremely talented professional carpenter,’ he says.
The chairs are a mishmash of vintage industrial seats and modern design classics, such as the Eames Plastic chair and Panton chair (both by Vitra).
The dinner table, an original design by Burgheim, is made from old industrial trestles and an oak top. ‘Before, I used to make most of the pieces myself. But eventually I started working with an extremely talented professional carpenter,’ he says.
The chairs are a mishmash of vintage industrial seats and modern design classics, such as the Eames Plastic chair and Panton chair (both by Vitra).
For Burgheim, good lighting, even in the evening, was essential. A lighting system built from steel and tubes with clear covers, one of the architect’s original designs, hangs over the kitchen island. ‘We were scared to death when the electrician put his wobbly ladder on the worktop to hang them up,’ laughs Burgheim. Two original industrial lights from the GDR era put the dinner table in the best possible light.
In the background, you can see the bathroom’s glass blocks, which emit warm, indirect light from the bathroom into the living room.
In the background, you can see the bathroom’s glass blocks, which emit warm, indirect light from the bathroom into the living room.
Burgheim also had the suspending ceiling removed from the living room, which opens into the kitchen, in order to make it all the more spacious.
The second level provided the home with some extra square footage and its own separate work station. ‘The couple now have a total of 2,150 sq ft of living space,’ says Burgheim. The gallery’s glass balustrade provides a peek into the upper floor and at the same time allows light to flood into the living room.
The stairs to the gallery are clad in MDF panels that hide built-in storage, while the treads are made from oak. The cupboards underneath are opened with Tip-on. In addition to odds and ends, the gas hot-water heater is also tucked away in here.
The newly installed gallery is highlighted from below by spotlights in the ceiling.
The stack of logs is not just for decoration: in order to warm the upstairs room on cold days, the Swiss-manufactured furnace is used to complement the apartment’s heating. ‘A must-have for the occupants,’ says the architect.
The stack of logs is not just for decoration: in order to warm the upstairs room on cold days, the Swiss-manufactured furnace is used to complement the apartment’s heating. ‘A must-have for the occupants,’ says the architect.
The pair of doors under the staircase lead to the guest bathroom and utility room. The doors are remnants from the bar and have been painted in a warm shade of grey.
In general, renovations rarely come off without a hitch and this one was no exception. ‘The floor in the back simply broke on us. The floor in the bar’s bathroom wasn’t properly sealed, and after years of moisture, several of the steel beams were rusted through,’ says Burgheim. ‘Luckily, it didn’t happen while bar-goers were using the bathroom.’
The bedroom and en suite bathroom are on the right at the top of the stairs. From the outside, another staircase leads to the basement, where a workroom can be found.
In general, renovations rarely come off without a hitch and this one was no exception. ‘The floor in the back simply broke on us. The floor in the bar’s bathroom wasn’t properly sealed, and after years of moisture, several of the steel beams were rusted through,’ says Burgheim. ‘Luckily, it didn’t happen while bar-goers were using the bathroom.’
The bedroom and en suite bathroom are on the right at the top of the stairs. From the outside, another staircase leads to the basement, where a workroom can be found.
The owners wanted the upstairs to be cosier. ‘The different design of the bedroom and bathroom illustrates the separation of the apartment into private and public spaces,’ explains Burgheim. The oak floorboards received a coat of warm white paint, and even the furniture has its own sweet country charm.
Discover 5 style shortcuts to get the classically elegant look
Discover 5 style shortcuts to get the classically elegant look
The bedroom has a little balcony with a view of the grassy inner courtyard. Furthermore, 860 sq ft of this back garden belongs to the apartment.
The couple can keep their clothes in the antique wooden dresser or a large cabinet (not pictured).
The couple can keep their clothes in the antique wooden dresser or a large cabinet (not pictured).
During the course of the renovation, the area where the bathroom is located was moved forward by 4ft and now terminates flush with the wall.
‘We didn’t want to raise any walls, as that would have meant less light for the bathroom and living room,’ says Burgheim. Instead, glass blocks were installed, which both let in the light and provide privacy. ‘At night, when the bathroom light is on, they serve as an indirect source of light,’ explains the architect.
Oak floorboards have been laid in here and sealed with waterproof white paint. The vanity unit, an original Burgheim design, has been custom-made and equipped with a double basin, while the walls and walk-in shower have been covered with smooth cement plaster.
See 10 different ideas for bathroom lighting
Oak floorboards have been laid in here and sealed with waterproof white paint. The vanity unit, an original Burgheim design, has been custom-made and equipped with a double basin, while the walls and walk-in shower have been covered with smooth cement plaster.
See 10 different ideas for bathroom lighting
TELL US…
What do you think of this apartment? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
What do you think of this apartment? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here A fortysomething couple
Location The Friedenau district of Berlin
Size 200 sq m (2,150 sq ft) over two levels
Architect Swen Burgheim of Studio Swen Burgheim
Construction time 6 months
For 20 years, the Schluckspecht bar was your typical Berlin hangout: quaint, casual and local. When it suddenly went up for sale two years ago, it was discovered by just the right person. ‘I knew this big, beautiful space well and immediately ran it by my clients,’ explains architect Swen Burgheim. It took only one day after the visit for the couple to sign the contract – and for Burgheim to give the green light for the gutting.