Exploring Hues: The Hansaviertel Project

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Inspiring a colour progression with a touch of historical furnishing, Germany-based Gisbert Pöppler infuses life into a private apartment.

Refurbishing a private apartment in Berlin for a renowned television writer, Germany-based architect Gisbert Pöppler experimented with limitless colour philosophies to weave a drama in the interiors. Stretched over 90sqm, the apartment is modulated in the corner of a modern structure that was designed by Walter Gropius for ‘Interbau’, the 1957 International Building Exhibition. Incidentally, the renovation’s completion coincided with the 90^th anniversary of the classic modernist BAUHAUS experiment in urban living.

The modern makeover merged in an era of history through furniture detailing and reverberated vibrancy into it through an uninhibited use of colours. The bold colour coding marks the change of times, emerging as the new ideal for urbaneness. Avoiding dark recesses, the design traces the functional divisions initially used by Walter Gropius. A few walls were ripped out to generously invite sunlight in and light up rooms more spaciously. Delineating a simplistic and unobtrusive structural transformation, the architect shifted the décor outlook by trying a few furnishings. Rendering the architect’s distinctive taste, the décor speaks of custom–made furniture like a china cabinet in the living room which evolves not only a sculpture but a functional conversation piece. Embarking on a colourful journey, the architect painted in a variegated range of shades like tart lemon, Chinese red and emerald green. The colour palette reflects the muted tones used in the exterior of the building façade. The architect zeroed in a perfect colour combination to create a comfortable ambience. Evolved from the tenor of moods of the room function, the tones gradate from aqua blue and sunny lemon, Chinese red in the kitchen to depict life inside a ‘chili pepper’ and emerald walls that mirror the leafy outside and relax the atmosphere with a bookcase in the study. A glossy black trim follows the circulatory spine throughout the apartment, connecting all the areas spatially.

The thematic semblance of the interiors to art accent a mystical journey invigorating a meaning that diversifies to encompasses individuality, modernity, luxury, and craftsmanship embedded in the bylanes of the archaical Berlin neighbourhood.

Text Compilation: Maanasi Hattangadi

Photographs: courtesy Wolfgang Stahr, Gisbert Pöppler

Architect’s website: www.gisbertpoeppler.de