In Hamburg’s prestigious Eppendorf district, a Jugendstil villa built in the early 20th century has become home to the new representative salon and integrated office of the renowned designer Iris von Arnim, often referred to as Germany’s “Cashmere Queen.” Here, luxurious knitwear pieces are displayed alongside the creative team’s workspace. The interior preserves the authenticity of the historical architecture: oak parquet flooring, wooden doors, decorative plaster ceilings, stained-glass elements, staircase wall décor and railings, and an original tiled stove. These features are complemented by contemporary architectural interventions that blend subtly and respectfully with the historical setting. The office and salon are unified into a single cohesive structure where representational and functional elements coexist seamlessly. Function and Layout The original layout of the villa is retained. The spaces are designed to allow circular movement through all rooms—office, salon, and the former winter garden. Traditional hinged doors have been transformed into sliding doors, saving space and improving the flow of movement. A new representational visual axis opens up, connecting the street with the villa’s distinctive inner courtyard, populated with sculptures. Entrance and Hall The entrance leads through a hall featuring a modern lift custom-designed for the space. The lift shaft is made of milled acrylic glass, functioning as an internal light source. A textile layer embedded between two glass panels in the cabin softens and diffuses the light, creating a gentle and even glow throughout the lift interior. Salon Space At the centre of the salon stands a custom-designed glass table, visually lightening the room while serving as a functional element for meetings, presentations, and daily work. Additional Solutions for a Contemporary Interior •Radiators concealed within the furniture elements. •Furniture raised from the floor, equipped with integrated lighting; all cabinets designed with sliding or folding doors. •Special acoustic materials are integrated into the decorative ceiling areas. •Modern furnishings, including the large glass table, were selected to maintain a visually light appearance and enhance the contemporary character of the interior without overwhelming it. Materials and Colour Palette The interior is defined by natural, stylistically authentic materials: wood, stone, glass, and anodised aluminium. Walls are finished using a specialised hand-applied surface technique. The colour palette consists of white, grey, and natural wood tones, creating a calm and restrained atmosphere. The expressive textures of the materials play an essential role in the overall design. Light Artificial lighting is designed to subtly enhance the historical ceiling décor. Natural light is maximised through wide sliding doors, ensuring that the salon receives as much daylight as possible. Result The result is an interior in which historical Jugendstil architecture harmoniously interacts with contemporary design solutions, meeting both the representational and day-to-day needs of the designer’s team. Architect Alfredas Trimonis Photo by Darius Petrulaitis