Gisbert Poppler completes colourful transformation of historic German home

[Celerity]

https://www.dezeen.com/2025/07/21/gisbert-poppler-transformation-historic-german-home/







Interior design studio Gisbert Pöppler has renovated a 1920s villa in Germany's Ruhr region, introducing a bold colour scheme and artisanal details that reflect its association with the Deutscher Werkbund movement. Pöppler's Berlin-based studio was initially asked to refresh the villa's colour scheme and furnishings, but convinced its clients that a comprehensive project was required to restore the home to its former glory.











The property was built in Hohenhagen in 1921 by the garden city's founder, industrialist Karl Ernst Osthaus, who was a member of German design movement Deutscher Werkbund. Pöppler's project involved reconfiguring the house to make it more suitable for modern living, while applying his signature use of colour and introducing elements that would reflect Osthaus' passion for art and craftsmanship.











In order to preserve the building's historic character, the heritage-listed brick facades were retained, but the interior, which had been gutted during world war two and had subsequently undergone poor-quality renovations, was completely overhauled. The clients intended to use the house both as a residence and for business use, and therefore required spaces that were large enough to host receptions or small conferences.











"The house should be representative but not intimidating, it should be approachable and inspire a sense of engagement," Pöppler said. "We connected three smaller rooms on the ground floor into one large garden hall because a lot of space was needed for a lot of people." The south-facing salon now forms the main living space in the house. Arched openings connect the room with the adjacent entrance hall, which was raised by almost a metre to give it a more generous and airy feel. A previously open staircase at the centre of the house was altered to create a tunnel-like stairwell that forms a distinct threshold between the public areas on the ground floor and the more private spaces above.

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[SheltieLover]

1. Wow!

Ty for sharing!

[Sogo]

2. Not a place where I could feel at home, but beautiful nonetheless.

BTW, what are those black rectangles hanging down from the kitchen ceiling?