With this 'townhouse' fit-out in Berlin's Prenzlauer Berg, OOW achieves a transformation into spaces of rare clarity: entirely in grey, with an abundance of exposed concrete, for a life pared back to the minimum. The design speaks a rigorous, powerful and clear language — a fit-out at gallery standard, in which millimetre-precise joints, concealed light and almost invisible fittings show that luxury is often to be found in the detailing.
The brief was uncompromising from the outset: "We love the concrete and want a house that limits itself to the barest essentials." Beyond that, as far as possible everything owned was to have its own permanent storage, for a meditative existence free of distraction. OOW translated these almost ascetic requirements into visual calm, control and the precision of fine craftsmanship, without ever appearing cold.
Minimalism also demands skill in the execution — so a single joiner produced the wall linings, doors, built-in elements and furniture to OOW's 1:1 detail drawings: continuous shadow gaps, handle-less openings via recessed grip grooves and fine leather pulls, along with a flush hinged door that aligns exactly with the glass wall of the stairwell and disappears into a niche.
Light is part of the palette — considered, proportioned, and precisely laid in. High-CRI LED tapes sit recessed in the slender perimeter joint between wall and ceiling and behind the stair stringer, giving the run a sculptural presence. The system is dimmable, deliberately offline, and operated with simple tactile switches. Edges read crisp; planes stay legible; the stair becomes a calm thread between levels.
The materials are reduced, not reductive. The raw exposed concrete — loved by the clients — defines the gallery-like tonality. A pale, polished marble terrazzo looks refined yet proves robust in everyday use. The kitchen recedes behind light-grey lacquered panels: all appliances are invisible, and even the oven is fully concealed by a removable custom cover panel.
The acoustics — the classic weak point of minimalist spaces — are addressed invisibly. Wall panels hang in front of plasterboard walls; in the cavity between, sound energy dissipates. The room sounds as composed as it looks.
On the upper floor, the strict zoning becomes ordered openness. A full-height mirror anchors the walk-in wardrobe; a flush pivot door continues the line of the stairwell glazing and, when open, disappears elegantly into the wall niche. In the bathroom, materiality takes centre stage: a bespoke concrete bathtub, cast with a soft, flattering surface (acrylic-glass formwork) and sealed with beeswax — a making-of video by OOW documents the process. Lights staged above it are refracted in the water and cast moving reflections across walls and ceiling.
