Redesigning Urban Living: The “Blue Box” Penthouse by Bruzkus Greenberg
Local architectural practice Bruzkus Greenberg has recently transformed a penthouse apartment in Berlin’s vibrant Prenzlauer Berg neighborhood. This innovative redesign introduces a striking blue-stained wooden core, affectionately termed the “Blue Box,” which houses essential functions like the entrance and a built-in banquette. The apartment, with an area of 75 square meters, is a modern solution that enhances practicality and cohesion for its residents.
From Cellular Layout to Open-Plan Living
Originally, the apartment featured a cellular layout around an underused fireplace and several partitioned rooms, one of which lacked any natural light. Recognizing the potential for improvement, Bruzkus Greenberg’s founders, Ester Bruzkus and Peter Greenberg, removed the fireplace and internal walls to craft an open-plan arrangement. This bold move allowed for more fluid circulation organized around the distinct inner core, fostering a more connected living experience.
The Practicality of the “Blue Box”
The bespoke timber element, known as the Blue Box, integrates wall panels, storage solutions, and a built-in banquette. This thoughtful design intervention not only conceals the staircase but also expands the living area by wrapping around a corner, effectively utilizing the available space. Greenberg noted, “We realized that by taking away the fireplace altogether and screening the stairs with a shelving unit, we made the dining area become the new center of the apartment.”
Crafting a Sense of Light and Space
The joinery within the Blue Box utilizes stained wood rather than paint to preserve the natural grain, while the dark blue hue complements lighter tones found in the stairwell and sloped ceiling. Upon entering the apartment, residents are greeted by a compact, low-ceilinged cloakroom that sets the stage for the open living space beyond. Greenberg highlights how “the dark and low entry makes the open space of the main room feel so much larger,” promoting a sense of lightness enhanced by the contrasting dark core.
Maximizing Outdoor Connections
Adjacent to the Blue Box, the staircase ascends to a roof terrace that offers picturesque views of Prenzlauer Berg’s rooftops. The terrace features built-in wooden benches that cleverly double as storage boxes for outdoor cushions, merging functionality with aesthetic appeal.
Flexible Living Space Design
On the opposite side of the living area, built-in cabinetry conceals a full-height closet and shelving, with mirrored panels that create an illusion of expanded space. A discreet sleeping area, separated by a light-blue curtain, incorporates a headboard that features a desk, ensuring the room can function as an efficient home office when needed. The headboard and curtain combination provide the flexibility of privacy while maintaining an airy atmosphere.
Custom Furnishings and Decor
The living area’s centerpiece is a bespoke butter-yellow sofa, designed specifically for this space by Bruzkus Greenberg. The sofa’s proportions allow for cylindrical cushions that nestle neatly along the back or sides, enhancing both comfort and visual appeal. All furnishings and decorative elements were curated through Bruzkus’s commercial agency, Studiocoucou, ensuring a cohesive design palette.
Harmonizing Colors and Materials
The apartment’s blue veneer is echoed throughout in accents like a glossy side table and the dining area’s bench seat, which is upholstered in a distinctive fabric. Mirrored surfaces not only amplify natural light but also enhance the spaciousness of the apartment, with existing columns covered in mirrors to seamlessly blend into the living area.
Design Philosophy in Action
This project encapsulates Bruzkus Greenberg’s design ethos, which masterfully balances logical planning with a playful exploitation of colors and materials. The designers expressed their affinity for projects that foster a dialogue between space, light, material conditions, and client needs. Greenberg articulates the ambition: “We like projects that create a synergy between the needs of the space, the client, and the aspirations of great design.”
A Vibrant Urban Transformation
Bruzkus Greenberg’s recent endeavors also include designing a co-working space in central Berlin, while other projects in Prenzlauer Berg showcase the dynamic relationships architects can build with urban environments. The Blue Box apartment stands as a testimony to the transformative power of creative architecture in urban living, inviting onlookers to reconsider their perspectives on multifunctional spaces.
The renowned architectural firm has once again demonstrated its commitment to innovative, functional design, redefining the concept of compact urban living with style, skill, and a touch of warmth.