The name is telling: rising like a precious black stone along the Rhine in Mülheim, the 20-storey Opal Tower commands attention. Its dark, textured brick exterior catches the sunlight in a brilliant sheen, tracing the sculptural geometry of the building's curved balconies. A structure this striking demands an interior equally refined in its design sensibility—and that's precisely what Cologne-based interior architect Ulrike Wallauer has delivered. The public spaces of this residential and office complex reveal a sophisticated dialogue between architecture and interior design, where each element responds to the other with elegant subtlety.

Beyond the building's striking exterior, the foyer serves as a high-rise's true calling card. Working closely with the client, Wallauer conceived a concept that extends the shimmering dynamism of the façade inward: a wall of iridescent glass beads—shifting between gold and ruby red—guides visitors through the entrance. As daylight changes, as angles shift, the wall's chromatic presence transforms, yet never demands attention. Instead, it offers something more subtle and enduring—a distinctive signature that welcomes residents home anew with each passing hour, each changing light.

This glittering effect is engineered through a custom lighting design Wallauer developed specifically for the foyer walls. Light coves define the spatial boundaries, while arranged light rings create a dynamic interplay of illumination and shadow that draws the eye upward, emphasizing the generous volume of the entrance. Every detail has been orchestrated to complement the building's refined architecture: organically curved wall and ceiling edges echo the oval geometry of the tower itself, while polished brass letterboxes—arranged in their own dedicated room—strike an elegant balance with the dark façade.

www.wallauer-innenarchitektin.eu

(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn 02|20)