Prussia meets Persia: Berlin villa
Built in 1887, the villa is located on an expansive property in Charlottenburg, Berlin.
The garden and pool area is expansive, covering a total of 2000m2.
A photograph by Eva Hassmann hangs above a brass fireplace in the living room. Bocci pendants adorn the ceiling.
In the library, the chandelier is Arctic Pear by Ochre, the goldleaf wallpaper is from Welter, the tan suede sofa is the Diana Chester by Baxter and the chair is Paola Navone’s Mama Nepal; the custom-made kitchen has Gaggenau cabinets and black granite benchtops.
The kitchen floors feature a bespoke patterned tile from Bisazza. The pendants are Terrarium by Lindsey Adelman.
Jasmin Taylor sits on the blue Minotti sofa covered in an Adamo & Eva fabric from Dedar Milano. The coffee tables are Classicon by Sebastian Herkner.
The dining room features limed and varnished oak panelling, a Branching Bubble chandelier by Lindsey Adelman, a Knoll Saarinen marble table and Paloma Baxter chairs by Roberto Lazzeroni.
Though it needed extensive work, the villa – set within an enchanting garden – was a true gem; the silk bedroom ceiling lamp is from Fortuny.
As expected from Taylor’s style, the project does not shy away from colour; the bathroom uses travertine and has a stone tub.
Privacy and community, work and play, contemplation and collaboration are all themes explored through the renovation of this 1887 German villa.
With interior design inspired by French art deco and the Wiener Akademie of the 1930s, yet interpreted in a modern way with clear lines and luxury materials, this house reflects the owner’s oriental roots with a mix of modern and classical elements.
At age 13, Teheran-born Jasmin Taylor witnessed the beginning of the Iran revolution before her parents shipped her off to Germany. It was here, all alone and without any knowledge of the language, that she began a migrant’s life, which eventually led to her becoming the founder and CEO of a highly successful Berlin-based tourism operator.
By 2011, the business required its own offices and the perfect space was found in west-end Berlin: a 3000m2 villa, big enough to set up offices and Taylor’s own home, and to welcome her visiting family. Although the 1887 villa – set within an enchanting garden – was a true gem, it was in a miserable state. The roof was missing and nature had taken control – all the historical interior features had disappeared.
For this daunting renovation, Taylor’s brief to Berlin architect Holger Hansen was clear: cosiness, order, space and a fashionable aesthetic. She wanted an apartment accessible to her family, suitable for company receptions and meetings, and luxurious, yet comfortable, for a couple.
“It was a very personal process for her because she had to recognise herself and her culture in the proposed designs,” explains Hansen. The first floor was gutted and opened as much as possible to allow light penetration and expand the sight lines into the garden. Thanks to two beautiful oak sliding doors, the kitchen also could be open to the dining room or become totally private if needed.
Yet, one of the overarching desires was to do justice to the charm and size of the old Wilhelminian-style building by giving each passage and living area its own story and distinct style. To enlarge and enhance the living room, the accent was placed on the sitting areas, with a niche and an oriel installed to accommodate cosy sofas bathed in natural light. “Secluded sitting areas were important components for Jasmin to have integrated into her living room,” explains Hansen.
A library/TV room was designed as a reception area opening to both the dining room and the living room, while the owner’s mother’s area was designed as compact but with plenty of storage space. “It has all the necessary trimmings for her extended visits: a private shower, a work and dressing table with armchairs and, of course, a large bed with upholstered headboard. All had to be wrapped in silk wallpaper and silk curtains to match her mother’s warm character.” A secret door leads to the dining room to allow for either seclusion from, or direct access to, family events.
Materials and furniture throughout the home were chosen to complement both Taylor’s taste and the various rooms’ dimensions and colour schemes. “Jasmin has a warm-hearted personality yet a cosmopolitan, open-minded style,” says Hansen. “So, the apartment had to reflect this welcoming style but remain modern. Also, her Persian carpet collection had to find its place. For this project, we invented the term ‘Prussia meets Persia’.”
As expected, the project does not shy away from colour. Taylor has always had a strong affinity to colourful textiles and silk, in interiors as much as in her own clothing. For her living room, she has chosen fabrics in blue shades from the Italian textiles manufacturer Dedar, to match the colour of the stunning Persian carpet. In her bedroom, she has opted for soothing green tones, with some pink touches.
The oriental patterned tiles in the kitchen, reinterpreted in a modern way, remind her of her native country and the beautiful architecture there.
The garden is a secret hideaway in Berlin with a stunning swimming pool, transforming weekends into mini-holidays. “In summer, life takes place outside. I enjoy that. Another big advantage is being close to my company. The offices are on the lower floors so I’m always there but, at the same time, I have the opportunity to be completely private,” explains Taylor.
One area, however, has become her favourite: the balcony. She loves to eat there, taking in the wonderful view over her garden while, in winter, she spends time in the oriel with a warm cup of tea, watching the snow falling outside.
This article first appeared in Urbis magazine.
