finowstrasse corner box, Installation, Berlin, Friedrichshain, Germany, 2020
Several years after the completion of our Finowstrasse Apartment Project, a subtle yet persistent issue emerged: a growing accumulation of jackets, handbags, and shoes in the entrance corner. It was a minor inconvenience, yet one that chipped away at the pristine order we had meticulously crafted.
In response, we devised a bespoke solution that embraced the spatial constraints of this triangular nook. A corner door, when opened, revealed a hidden world of order: a bench for a moment of repose, shoe shelves to corral the daily clutter, and further compartments to accommodate life’s miscellany.
To address the daily ritual of shoe removal and retrieval, we partially floated the box, creating a shadowy void beneath. This seemingly simple gesture transformed a mundane necessity into an elegant act, with shoes disappearing into the darkness, leaving only a sense of order in their wake.
Architect: ALLEN KAUFMANN Architekten
Photography: Justin Allen
Fabrication: Johannes Helm