Heading out toward the radio tower along Bismarckstraße or Neue Kantstraße feels like traveling back in time. These grand turn-of-the-century mansions—most built in the late 1800s and early 1900s—still carry their original elegance. Yet their interiors fall short of contemporary living standards. When architect and interior designer Clarissa Baldini, based in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, took on the task of redesigning the attic space of one such residence, she faced an unexpected constraint: the existing floor plan couldn't be altered. Still, substantial modernization was essential to meet today's aesthetic and technical demands.

The real challenge lay in threading the needle—preserving the apartment's original character while meeting contemporary living standards. Clarissa Baldini succeeded brilliantly, earning the 2025 Design Award for this project. What appeared straightforward at first proved far more complex: the attic featured previous renovations so convoluted and irregular that virtually no right angles existed. Demolition and starting fresh would have been the obvious choice, yet the constraints demanded a different approach. Baldini flipped the script entirely: "I believe it's often the distinctive features and irregularities of an existing space that make a project truly distinctive—by emphasizing these qualities rather than fighting them, and presenting them in a fresh light." Her strategy was elegant: instead of minimizing the structural quirks, she amplified them. Technical enclosures were added rather than hidden; architraves were introduced to create space for built-in cabinetry. Only after establishing this architectural foundation could the interior design unfold. Following meticulous painting, the palette shifted to subtle beige tones, with light carefully sculpted across niches and recesses. Premium materials became the language of the space—wall fabrics, wood veneers in the bedroom, burnished brass detailing, and innovative plant-based leather upholstering the columns. Soft, sculptural built-ins completed the composition. "Sophie-Charlotte"—an elegant attic residence—was born.

www.baldini-architekten.de

Photos:
Luca Girardini
www.lucagirardini-photography.com

(Published in CUBE Berlin 02|25)