Intelligent Living Design
Germany's first outpost of a Belgian smart home pioneer is now open on Schadowplatz.
The Basalte showroom was designed to be far more than a typical exhibition space. As distinctive as the Belgian manufacturer's products themselves, the presentation in Düsseldorf's city center needed to be equally unique. Created through a collaboration between Maria Hassler Architektur+Design and the Basalte design team—led by company founder Sandra Maes—the showroom demonstrates how smart home solutions integrate seamlessly into contemporary interior design.
The Ghent-based company envisioned a sophisticated yet inviting interior for the top two floors of a recently renovated commercial building on Schadowplatz – one that would seamlessly blend smart technology with warmth and comfort. Drawing from their Belgian headquarters aesthetic, the design incorporates premium natural stone, refined eucalyptus veneers, and verdant green tones inspired by Scandinavian design principles. The interior architects faced a familiar challenge: integrating all technical systems within the constraints of the existing structure. The low-profile floor required ingenious concealment of cabling and floor boxes, while all electrical and climate systems had to remain invisible despite occupying minimal space. The solution emerged as a fluid, open-plan layout on the fifth floor – one that organically connects different zones of the Basalte showroom without sacrificing functionality. The kitchen, anchored by a cooking island and conversational dining area, becomes the heart of the experience. Here, visitors encounter smart technology not as abstract innovation, but as an integral part of a gracefully appointed, luxurious living environment. Warm eucalyptus wall panels work in concert with tactile, 100% natural Argille clay plaster in "warm white" and pale Italian travertine – a palette that softens the light from Occhio's luminous rings into warm, diffused tones. The sixth floor shifts the mood entirely. Another eucalyptus installation pairs with bronze accents that evoke Art Deco glamour, reinforced by sumptuous high-pile carpeting and petrol-hued velvet drapes. A sophisticated bar – complete with grey smoked glass and natural stone countertop – completes the cinematic experience. Its striking liquid metal slatted surface and integrated ambient lighting provide the final flourish to this cohesive design vision.
www.hasslerarchitektur-design.com
www.basalte.be
Photography:
Maria Hassler,
Siva Kumar
(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 01|25)