Guido Hager is a landscape architect from Berlin. This is his apartment. I don’t mean to be stereotyping people here, but have you noticed that there isn’t a single plant in this interior? Without looking up who lived here, I would’ve never guessed this place belonged to a landscape architect. Do you know what I mean? I hope so. “I only like trees when they’re outside. I don’t feel any need to have them indoors,” says Hager. Fair enough I suppose.

Anyway, since we are on this “guess who lives here” thing, I would have assumed this apartment belonged to a corporate heavy-weight. Someone who (errr.. clearly!) loves art, but probably isn’t an art dealer because the collection looks too homogenous and same-y. I’d definitely guess it belonged to a man. A single man. There’s nothing about this place that says “couple” to me. In fact, there’s very little here that says “home”. Ouch! Such harsh words on a Friday… What can I say, I’m only telling it like it is. And that shit can be pretty hard to take.

 

 

This is such a striking interior. Amazing spaces, heigh ceilings, ornate heritage features, dramatic black parquet floor, pedigree furniture collection, the art… It’s beautiful. Sophisticated. Sharp. So sharp in fact, that I could cut my eyeballs just looking at it!

So… What’s missing then? I don’t know. A warmth. A personality. It’s just a little bit too perfect. Feels like a showroom. It lacks a heart and that lived-in mess. I do really love it still. I would happily move in and mess it up and introduce a few “wrong” bits to soften it, make it feel real and more human. Am I nuts to think this way? Probably.

Oh and one more thing. It says this apartment was designed by Helenio Barbetta. Mr Barbetta, however, appears to be a photographer. A bit confusing, no? Yes I think so.


[Images vis arch|dez|art.]



About The Author

Founder & Editor

With a disarming blend of authority and approachability, Dana is a former refugee-turned-global design visionary. Through her multi-faceted work as a creative director, keynote speaker, editor, curator, interior designer and digital publisher, Dana empowers others to appreciate and engage with design in transformative ways, making the sometimes intimidating world of design accessible to everyone, regardless of their familiarity with the subject. Dana's been catapulted to the status of a stalwart global influencer, with recognition from industry heavyweights such as AD Germany, Vogue Living, Elle Décor Italia and Danish RUM Interiør Design, who have named as one of the Top True Global Influencers of the Design World and counted her among the most visionary female creatives on the planet. Her TEDx talk—"Design Can Change the Way You See the World"— will challenge and transform your understanding of design's omnipresent and profound influence. Through her vast experience in interiors, architecture and design, Dana challenges the prevailing rapid image culture, highlighting the importance of originality, sustainability, connecting with your values and learning to "see" design beyond the aesthetic.

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