The brief was simple yet ambitious: design an office that transcends the conventional – or at least doesn't look like one. The vision came from an acclaimed director who wears many hats: producer, artistic director, CEO, and professor at the Film University Baden-Württemberg. His goal was to create a new workspace in Potsdam that would seamlessly blend living and working. The solution lay in the Nauener Vorstadt district – specifically, the converted attic of a quintessential 1880s Brandenburg house. With its exposed timber beams left intentionally visible, the space proved ideally suited for crafting something refreshingly unconventional.

Interior architect Isabel Droste zu Senden took on the challenge of bringing these ideas to life. Drawing on their shared vision, she developed a design concept centered on blurring the line between living and working. The result feels inviting and lived-in – comfortable, warmly welcoming, and smartly functional. The entrance announces itself with a striking orange accent wall displaying the newly designed "NH" logo. Beside it sits a deep matte blue wall – a signature feature in all the director's offices – serving as the gallery backdrop for his impressive collection of accolades. From here, visitors move into the reception area, where Droste zu Senden's sophisticated color palette becomes fully apparent: warm pastels that feel curated rather than chaotic. Cream walls finished in terre d'ombre plaster harmonize beautifully with the exposed wooden beams above. A deeper brown carpet anchors two generous, invitingly soft sofas in pale violet, positioned to face one another. Open shelving maintains the room's sense of transparency while providing ample display space for further awards and treasures. The designer crafted both built-in elements and freestanding pieces – including room dividers – that, because of their open design, preserve the airy, uncluttered feel. A lounge space connected to the entrance serves dual purposes: intimate meetings and private film screenings. The conference area beyond features a generous table, while strategically placed cabinetry neatly conceals technology and technical equipment. Droste zu Senden and her client share a history spanning two decades. She's served as interior architect through multiple relocations, allowing their partnership to deepen and mature into an intuitive, complementary working relationship. This home office represents the refined culmination of two decades of collaboration.

www.droste-architekten.de

Photography:
Nina Struve
www.ninastruve.de

(Featured in CUBE Berlin 04|24)