How often does an interior designer get the chance to design an apartment with complete creative freedom? Berlin-based Carlo Architektur und Interior Design seized this rare opportunity. It's hardly surprising that Charlotte Wiessner, the firm's founder, embraced the challenge with unbridled enthusiasm. The project: transforming a penthouse overlooking Spittelmarkt. The existing layout fell short of the client's vision, so the team began by restructuring the floor plan—removing walls and creating new spaces. During an initial briefing, the team learned what truly mattered to their client: years spent in Japan had awakened a deep appreciation for Japanese interior culture. She envisioned nothing less than an apartment "à la japonaise"—and entrusted the architects with complete creative control and a €700,000 budget.Understanding Japanese design requires looking beyond surface elements. Tatami mats, paper screens, and futon beds are often dismissed as clichés, yet they reflect a profound philosophy: the Japanese art of creating calm through restraint. Here, however, the approach feels richer and more layered. The entrance functions as a space of purification—shoes must never cross the threshold. The architects reimagined this zone as a "forest," with hand-painted wallpaper evoking a world of tranquility and balance. From this sanctuary, five doors open into distinct living realms. To the right, a pine-green cloakroom provides a subtle transition. Beyond lies the library, serving dual purposes as both a contemplative reading space and guest reception area. An impressive walnut bookcase in warm reddish tones showcases a curated collection of antique volumes. A seamless passage leads into the living area and its intimate tea corner—a sanctuary for quiet reflection. On the gold-leaf finished wall, sunlight dances in an ever-shifting display of luminosity. Dining furniture emerges from a renowned Japanese manufacturer. Past the two bathrooms, the bedroom reveals itself as the apartment's most enchanting space. A mother-of-pearl wardrobe, adorned with hand-painted fish, becomes a work of art.

www.carlo-berlin.com

Photography Credits:

Daniel Schäfer

(Published in CUBE Berlin 01|23)