Circus Living, Berlin
Client: The Circus Group
Planning: smow Leipzig, Designstudio loeserbettels
Year: 2024
Areas furnished: Common areas, lobby, café, open space, attic space
Project Synopsis
Located in the heart of Berlin the Circus Living Apartments combine stylish design, high-quality furnishings and functionality. The apartments are specially designed to offer guests a comfortable, inspiring and simultaneously practical temporary home. In 2024 The Circus Group decided to re-design and furnish its community areas, i.e. the lobby and the attic space on the top floor. The interior design studio loeserbettels was commissioned with this task in cooperation with smow Leipzig. Henrik Löser (loeserbettels) and Toni Stadler from smow Leipzig had already worked together successfully on smaller projects in the past and both sought to employ the existing creative synergy and "ping-pong of ideas" to bequeath the Circus Living Apartments a unique, harmonious character.
(Toni Stadler)
The Circus Living Apartments, designed by the architectural firm Bernd Albers, impress at first glance with their striking façade: flowing, wave-shaped elements give the building a distinctive identity, while the harmonious combination of round and angular shapes and contrasting materials such as concrete and glass characterize the design. This interplay continues inside: functionality meets aesthetics, and the modern interior elegantly picks up on the design of the exterior façade. Inspired by the sophisticated Art Deco style of the 1920s, the working title "Natural Déco" was created, which is particularly noticeable in the stylishly designed lobby.
Project Management
Brief
The particular challenge of the project was to transform the almost unlimited design freedom into a coherent concept that takes up the simple elegance of the apartments and enhances it through the design of the community areas - especially the lobby. Inspired by the imposing façade the designers decided to take up the style of the 1920s in a contemporary form, a decision particularly reflected in the central heart of the lobby via an imposing counter made of green marble, which reinterprets the elegance of Art Deco as a striking statement. The aim was to complement the reduced design of the rooms with a luxurious and inviting atmosphere in the common areas and thus create a balanced composition.
Realisation
Without any strict specifications, the client found his expectations perfectly implemented in the design ideas. However, the implementation phase presented an enormous challenge: the furniture removal in the lobby area had to be completed within just three weeks - and that in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the ongoing construction work on the entire building. Despite the tight time frame, a harmonious interior design was created that impresses with its quality and atmosphere.
The design of the Circus Living Apartments is characterised by clearly defined areas that cover different needs. In addition, a well-thought-out mix of materials comes into play: in the café, which scores with its charming bistro character, classic Thonet chairs meet elegant Pedrali tables and create an inviting atmosphere for convivial moments or a relaxed break, while the adjacent lounge and co-working area offers space for communicative work or retreat in small groups where comfortable seating and flexible work surfaces invite you to get creative with a laptop and coffee.
A particular highlight of the implementation is the lighting concept which plays with indirect and atmospheric lighting. Soft light sources set accents that perfectly showcase the high-quality choice of materials - from warm woods to shimmering metal elements - and give the room a lively, yet relaxed atmosphere that creates a balanced relationship between functionality and a feel-good character. The lighting not only highlights the high-quality surfaces, but also underlines the structure of the room and gives it a timeless, luxurious look - in the spirit of "Natural Déco".
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