MOM by J. MAYER H. is a joyful assemblage of confusions, confessions and clutter

International architecture practice J. MAYER H. und Partner transforms an apartment in Berlin, Germany, situated in a historical architectural shell from the 1900s with distinct floor plans. The project, MOM, strips away decades of renovation to create a visually striking contemporary design, catering to a modern lifestyle. The apartment design opens up the layout, removing the non load-bearing walls and low door openings to create more fluidity and dynamism in the spatial flow.

Founded in 1996 by German architect Jürgen Mayer in Berlin, the practice operates at the intersection of architecture, communication, materiality and technology, and prides itself on an oeuvre that spans urban planning, architecture, installations and objects. For MOM, the design team took inspiration from the building itself, translating the curved gable of its facade and original vaulted arches into design details. The profiled wooden rods on the walls complement the wave-like forms of the ceiling, while the clay plaster flooring is a constant presence throughout the home.

The spaces unfold as a progression of wave-like forms, featuring art installations and home decor by various artists. Certain volumes look almost bitten into, leaving the edges uneven yet open for intervention. Through them, the designers introduce smooth, colourful elements into the space, converting them into decorative features, shelves and occasionally, furniture. At first glance, there is nothing cohesive about the bespoke furniture designs within the spaces; colours, textures and design languages sit in contrast with each other almost to the point of creating a visual chaos. The use of highly reflective surfaces at certain places do not help the case either. But as one allows their eyes to settle and examine the objects closely, one realises that each element and object has a designated place where it belongs and serves a function. Since the visual clutter is consistent throughout most spaces in the apartment, it allows one to feel comfortable over time.

A pale green leaf-shaped table sits at the centre of the home, almost acting like a centrepiece in an exhibition. The kitchen is dressed in bright yellow, referencing Le Corbusier’s monastery kitchen at La Tourette. A dining table, featuring neutral colours and a modular design, is illuminated by a hung sculpture by German artist Björn Dahlem. A deep blue seating arrangement is almost carved out of a volume, occupying the common living space, while a loggia—designed by J. MAYER H. in collaboration with design and art installation studio Tadan—by the courtyard radiates a yellow glow.

Perhaps the most ‘orderly’ spaces amidst all the chaos are the bedrooms, featuring furniture, art and decor in shades of green, blue and white. The bathrooms act as an extension of this approach, dressed in sage green and turquoise surfaces. Contrastingly, the guest bathroom features striking forms and aubergine pink lighting design, which is also the colour used for radiators, ceilings and window frames for a sense of cohesion. The neon work, Luftschlösser, by German multimedia artist Christian Jankowski further adds to forming a conceptual thread across the spaces, attempting to establish a strong dialogue between the historical shell and striking new forms. Together, these eccentric forms and colours confess the chaos that they seem to embody.

The apartment design stages vibrant confessions and joyful confusions through unexpected details that appear as a fresh respite to conventional interior designs one is used to consuming. It isn't a space for visitors but for inhabitants, who introduce their own clutter into the mix, interacting with the spaces with a sense of familiarity and comfort. This perceived lived-in condition is perhaps the project's most intriguing feature, insisting the visitors to form an impression over time.