Berlin architecture studio Ænsemble has transformed a century-old country house in Brandenburg, Germany, combining preserved Wilhelminian-era details with colourful contemporary interiors.
Built at the beginning of the 20th century, the 700-square-metre residence had fallen into disrepair before half of the property was acquired by a family of artists. They wanted to create a home that could accommodate living, working, and hosting guests.
Because the listed building had no communal living spaces on the ground floor, while its former staff quarters were dark and fragmented, the renovation required both structural and interior changes.
Berlin practice Söllner Wagner Architekten handled the structural work, while Ænsemble developed the interiors.
Historic Architecture Meets Contemporary Design
Ænsemble was required to preserve the property’s historic character. However, the studio deliberately introduced new elements that remain visually distinct from the original architecture.
“Our architectural approach is based on the belief that later additions to a building or its interior should remain visible,” Ænsemble co-founder Judith Kading told Dezeen. “Only in this way can the chronological layering of different uses, occupants and phases of renovation be understood.”
“A purely historical recreation of architectural styles of the past would limit the building’s character to a single defining era and leave future generations with no reference point for the design ethos of our time.”
“At the same time, it was important to us that the new elements did not appear to dominate the historic features,” she continued.
“They therefore adopt a restrained, more abstract design language, with their craftsmanship only subtly apparent.”
Consequently, the renovation treats the house as an evolving architectural record rather than attempting to recreate a single historical period.
Bold Colours Reframe the Country House Interior
The kitchen now occupies a larger ground-floor room and centres on a sky-blue Corian island containing a sink, stove, and storage. Its rounded form introduces a softer counterpoint to the geometry of the historic interior.
“Although it stands out in colour from the other tones, it remains anchored within the delicate overall palette,” explained the studio. “With its soft curves, it provides a deliberate counterpoint to the historical geometry.”
The former kitchen has become a den instead. Here, curved powder-pink fluted panelling sits in front of the original walls, while a built-in sofa occupies the former kitchenette and can be converted into a bed.
Elsewhere, Ænsemble added colourful built-in furniture across the house. A crimson sofa defines the salon, while deep-blue cabinetry lines the passageways and sea-green corduroy window seats brighten the upstairs corridor.
The former staff quarters now house bedrooms, while their en-suite bathrooms feature terrazzo surfaces and streamlined black hardware. Moreover, several storage cupboards feature ceramic handles moulded by the client from nuts and leaves gathered around the property.
A Contemporary Retreat Within a Historic Shell
The first floor also includes a bright winter room overlooking the garden and the nearby river. A fireplace and extensive bookshelves give the space a quieter character, complementing the more expressive colours used elsewhere in the house.
Together, these interventions establish a dialogue between old and new. Rather than concealing the building’s history, Ænsemble uses contemporary materials, colour, and furniture to make its different architectural layers visible.
The Brandenburg country house, therefore, demonstrates an approach to historic renovation that prioritises continuity without imitation, allowing a new generation of occupants to add its own chapter to the building’s long history.