Raphael’s Refugium - Living Like in a Gallery

A former office space, an art dealer, and a bold approach to space!
This project began with a former loft-style office featuring exceptionally high ceilings and a spacious terrace in the city center. This distinctive, partly two-story space was envisioned as the new home for a young art dealer, perfectly suited for a hybrid concept between apartment and art gallery.
The unique spatial layout of the loft made dividing it into separate rooms impractical, as it would have compromised its three-dimensional qualities. This led to a clear architectural principle: a largely neutral space would host freestanding, sculptural, and individually designed furniture pieces of high aesthetic quality—resembling artworks in a gallery.
Only two large sweeping lines intersect the space. These lines support two curtain layers: one layer is white, light, semi-transparent, and functions as a spatial divider. The other is solid red, opaque, and acts as a room separator.
Depending on how much the curtains are drawn, the space can either fully open up or create room-like zones. The layering of the two curtains produces dynamic effects of color and transparency. For instance, the freestanding, object-like bathroom furnishings can be transformed into a more private bathroom by drawing the curtains, offering an adjustable level of intimacy.
In line with the core concept, the expansive window front is complemented by a sequence of design objects: a substantial stainless-steel kitchen rises cathedral-like toward the six-meter-high ceiling, while above it, two handcrafted glass lights float like soap bubbles. Next come the dining table and a sofa, which, being designed without a set orientation, is accessible from all sides—reinforcing the intention of a fluid, directionless space.
The open, playful, and expansive feel of the space is achieved by keeping all practical room elements—such as cabinets, closets, workspace, storage, and utility areas—visually separated from the main area. A “pragmatic-functional wall” runs along three sides of the rear section, housing all daily-use functions and incorporating mirrors that enhance the sense of openness.
Toward the window front, this wall transitions into a lushly planted green bed that gently encloses the room’s end. This greenery appears to flow seamlessly through the glass front, continuing as a green screen outside, merging interior and exterior into a cohesive whole that feels even larger, airier, and more open.
This effect is further emphasized by a single, seamless light microcement floor that extends across all indoor and outdoor surfaces. The generously sized folding-sliding doors reinforce the fluid transition between the living space and the terrace.