In the iconic "Haus des Kindes" building at Strausberger Platz, one apartment has been meticulously restored and reimagined. The Bonauer office undertook the thoughtful task of refining its high-quality design and complementing it with handcrafted elements faithful to the original character. But first, a word about this place's storied past: when (East) Berlin served as the GDR's capital, grand thoroughfares like today's Karl-Marx-Allee emerged—marked by striking residential blocks, squares, and gatehouses that still echo the era's architectural ambition. Hermann Henselmann, the visionary architect behind the socialist classicism of the former Stalinallee, shaped this distinctive urban landscape. The "Haus des Kindes" (House of Children) was one of these gatehouses, legendary for its pioneering program: a children's department store, kindergarten, theater, and rooftop café at 70 meters up on the 14th floor—the building's crown jewel and a beloved destination, not least for its sweeping city views. Opened in 1954, the entrance dazzled visitors with marble, columns, and murals, while ornate banisters featured whimsical fairy-tale motifs.

Little remains of this former grandeur, and the apartments built back then fall short by today's residential standards. The Bonauer office knew how to address this challenge: rather than accepting the string-of-pearls room sequence typical of the era, they created an entirely new floor plan and expanded the apartment by adding an extra space that was previously only accessible from the elevator shaft. A former listening room? Quite possibly. There are many rumors and stories surrounding this prestigious property of those in power.

The redesigned floor plan transforms what was once a cramped kitchen and bathroom zone, opening the spaces through thoughtful reorganization. A new southern entrance now welcomes visitors into a generous foyer with a discrete guest powder room. The dining room flows naturally into the library and living areas, while the bedroom and bath occupy the eastern wing—the latter reimagined as a sophisticated room-within-a-room through elegant modern fixtures. Every detail reflects meticulous restoration and renovation, executed with deep respect for the building's heritage protections. The expanded apartment now spans 127 m². A carefully curated palette of warm browns—evident in the flooring, walls, doors, and the striking brown marble bathroom with its dark veining and white accents—creates an ambiance of refined comfort and belonging.

www.bbpa-berlin.com

Photography:
Büro Bonauer

(Published in CUBE Berlin 03|24)