Behind the design of Soho House Berlin
Spread across eight floors of a Grade II-listed building dating back to 1928, the House celebrates brutalist architecture with a touch of 1920s glamour
Tuesday 17 September 2024 By Chloe Lawrance Photography by Robert Rieger
Set in Mitte, the cultural district of the German capital, Soho House Berlin opened in 2010 and was our first House in Europe. Since then, it’s become a cornerstone of the creative community in the city, welcoming members into the Bauhaus-style building complete with a gym, Cowshed spa and rooftop swimming pool.
The building has a rich history. It was built as a department store, before being used as a political staging point by governments throughout the century. When Nick Jones and the Soho House team first found the site, it had been empty since 1995.
‘When we took over the building, it was essentially just a concrete frame, stripped down to the bare bones,’ explains Soho House Principal Designer, Severine Lammoglia. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, as it meant the team could create a space that suited our needs exactly. ‘Overall, it took around three and a half years for us to design and build the House, as we added an extra floor and put the swimming pool in on the rooftop.’
The building has a rich history. It was built as a department store, before being used as a political staging point by governments throughout the century. When Nick Jones and the Soho House team first found the site, it had been empty since 1995.
‘When we took over the building, it was essentially just a concrete frame, stripped down to the bare bones,’ explains Soho House Principal Designer, Severine Lammoglia. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, as it meant the team could create a space that suited our needs exactly. ‘Overall, it took around three and a half years for us to design and build the House, as we added an extra floor and put the swimming pool in on the rooftop.’
With such impressive brutalist architecture, it was important to the team – with the help of interior designer Susie Atkinson – to retain as much of the original design as possible.
‘We kept lots of the existing finishes – for example, what had been the office of Wilhelm Pieck, former President of the German Democratic Republic, is now a private event space in the building,’ says Lammoglia. ‘We preserved the room as much as we could; we retained the original panelling and most of the original shelving.’
Throughout the House, the team also worked to add the signature Soho Home touch: comfy, inviting sofas, layered lighting, and a playful mix of colour and pattern. It was also important to balance this with the creativity and grittiness of Berlin as a city, with exposed brick walls and concrete beams left in place.
‘We combined elements of that industrial brutalist aesthetic with flea market finds and a little bit of 1920s glamour, introducing glass chandeliers and velvet fabrics,’ says Lammoglia. ‘The interiors are actually quite feminine with floral patterns and rich tones in contrast to the more austere architecture.’
‘We kept lots of the existing finishes – for example, what had been the office of Wilhelm Pieck, former President of the German Democratic Republic, is now a private event space in the building,’ says Lammoglia. ‘We preserved the room as much as we could; we retained the original panelling and most of the original shelving.’
Throughout the House, the team also worked to add the signature Soho Home touch: comfy, inviting sofas, layered lighting, and a playful mix of colour and pattern. It was also important to balance this with the creativity and grittiness of Berlin as a city, with exposed brick walls and concrete beams left in place.
‘We combined elements of that industrial brutalist aesthetic with flea market finds and a little bit of 1920s glamour, introducing glass chandeliers and velvet fabrics,’ says Lammoglia. ‘The interiors are actually quite feminine with floral patterns and rich tones in contrast to the more austere architecture.’
Up on the rooftop, the swimming pool is tiled with green Pyrolave volcanic stone, and surrounded by timber decking, striped sun loungers and umbrellas. In the main club, the team added warm and inviting 1970s-inspired flourishes: parquet flooring is paired with big velvet armchairs, patterned rugs and a wood-panelled bar with a marble top.
The result is a House that feels distinctly ‘us’, but also unique to Berlin.
‘You can feel creativity in the air of the club,’ adds Lammoglia. ‘The casual, edgy vibe of Berlin is really reflected in the House. It’s playful and quirky as much as it is elegant.’
Explore Soho House Berlin and apply for membership
The result is a House that feels distinctly ‘us’, but also unique to Berlin.
‘You can feel creativity in the air of the club,’ adds Lammoglia. ‘The casual, edgy vibe of Berlin is really reflected in the House. It’s playful and quirky as much as it is elegant.’
Explore Soho House Berlin and apply for membership
