With only eight weeks to design and furnish the penthouse in Stuttgart's Villa Garden, Barbara Benz and her architare team produced an interior that combines many details with a sophisticated mixture of international design icons and a cosy feel-good atmosphere. Barbara Benz told us in an interview why the interior design concept was successful.
Penthouse above the roofs of Stuttgart
What atmosphere did you want the flat to have?
First and foremost, we wanted to create elegance and well-being.
How did you implement this concept?
On the one hand, we chose furniture that is design-conscious and characterised by high quality. An example of this is the furniture by Walter Knoll, such as the Livina Landscape sofa or the dining chairs, which are manufactured according to strict quality criteria. On the other hand, we wanted to create a feel-good atmosphere. Arriving, being at home, being able to let go - these are the feelings the residents should have as soon as they let the door fall shut behind them.
Yet when you enter the flat, you feel much more than a homely sense of well-being?
That's right. The furnishings, colour scheme and sense of space should meet the cosmopolitan demands of the occupant couple, a manager from the automotive industry and his wife.
Is the international approach typical for architare?
Yes, definitely. architare stands for interior design with an international project management approach. Our clients stay in leading hotels, are well-read, have an idea of good design as well as a good wine and they know how apartments should be furnished.
How does this international style show in the furnishing of the penthouse?
Thanks to our wide range, we can draw on various international brands. We combined upholstered furniture by Walter Knoll with a shelf by MDF Italia, mirrors by the Danish brand Gubi and cushions by the French textile company Hermes and Italian wallpaper by Tecnografica. This creates a twist that is equally international and individual. But first and foremost, it is always tailored to the needs and demands of the customers.
According to your motto "Furnishing is empathising with life contexts"?
Exactly!
ARCHITARE APPROACHES INTERIOR DESIGN WITH AN INTERNATIONAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT MINDSET.
For the lighting, you chose lights by Occhio. Why?
Occhio offers lighting series that are formally consistent and provide the right lighting effect for every situation - whether you need bright light for reading or atmospheric lighting for dining.
Or if you want atmospheric lighting for dining, in addition the lighting mood can be regulated via an app. Many of our customers are particularly enthusiastic about this.
What was the biggest challenge in furnishing the penthouse at Relenberg in Stuttgart?
The tight time frame. We designed the entire flat furnishing in just eight weeks, coordinating all the work, including the design of the stone wall in the living room, which was implemented by the Stuttgart-based company Körner.
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WAS THE TIGHT TIME FRAME. WE DESIGNED THE ENTIRE APARTMENT FACILITY IN JUST EIGHT WEEKS.
How did you present your interior concept to the clients?
We presented the concept in 3D. We offer these presentations to many of our customers, because they make an interior with our planning ideas quickly and accurately comprehensible. In addition, we show mood boards that make it possible to experience the respective colour worlds and materials used. Especially valuable woods, fabrics and carpets should not only be perceived visually, but also felt. After all, they play a major role in the feel-good atmosphere of a home.
