IN PICS | Calm refuge for a nomadic owner at this classy Berlin apartment

Having been based in Zurich for almost a decade and living in “a space that was very James Bond: lots of integrated hi-tech gadgets and everything perfectly linear and incredibly modern”, Masala relocated to the city of his childhood, Berlin, prompted by the serendipitous purchase of this apartment.

“I waited patiently for three years for it to become available,” he explains. “The former owner had filled it with birds, floor-to-ceiling paintings and furniture. By the time her family was ready to sell it was in the end stages of a renovation that had pared the elements back, restored the wonderful original features as well as updated the bathroom. So what we had was something of a blank canvas to start with.”

A firm believer in creative alliances — and owing to an unrelenting travel schedule entailing checking up on existing hotels, in-progress projects as well as “travelling all over the world gathering inspiration for new developments” — Masala united with his close friend, acclaimed interior designer and stylist Annabell Kutucu. Also part of the design squad was Michael Schickinger: another friend and design associate who is also Kutucu's business partner in the multidisciplinary Berlin-based design firm, Lambs and Lions. The three have recently collaborated on several flagship boutique hotels in Greece under the Casa Cook brand name, with more to come. 

Kutucu's design signature reflects that of Masala's: an astute juxtaposition of colour, texture and a sophisticated ability to combine items and objects with diverse provenances. “I love moody palettes and natural materials in combination with handpicked vintage pieces and some ethnic elements,” explains Kutucu. “Thanks to the 19th century architecture, the apartment comes with high ceilings and lots of natural daylight, so the goal was to curate the space embedding these strengths.”

As old friends (the two live one block apart) Kutucu was uniquely placed to understand Masala's lifestyle requirements and aesthetic preferences. The intention was to create a home for someone “who travels intensely”, a “cosy, chic and relaxed interior” to return to alone or to entertain guests in as well as a functional work-from-home space without any overt sense of formality.

The architectural rhythm of the apartment is easy-going. The entrance leads straight into the kitchen with simple but top-notch accoutrements as well as a bespoke open-shelf metal unit. “My grandmother was Italian and very stylish,” explains Masala, referring to the carefully curated, largely all-white (with some black-and-wooden-items in between) selection of crockery, serving dishes, bowls and mugs. “She was fastidious about gift-giving: only homeware that was simple, functional and beautiful. So strictly white kitchenware, table and bed linen, towels ... It’s become a rule in our family, no garish or unattractive gifts. Only the good stuff,” he laughs.

While Masala describes working with Kutucu and Schickinger as harmonious and fun, there were a few unconventional moments. “It happened more than once, where I would be standing on a building site on an island in Greece or heading into a meeting in our London office when Annabell would be Facetiming me or sending me snaps from some little antique shop in Berlin or market in Paris to show me a piece that she thought would be great in the apartment,” he laughs. 

As Kutucu explains it, integrating Masala's personal belongings with the furniture and decorative items that she selected was easy “because he has such exquisite taste and had such beautiful things to begin with”. “Although,” he jokes, “there’s a lot of stuff in storage that I’ve collected over the years that we agreed wouldn’t work in here but that I just can’t part with. I’m always tempted to get one or two things out but I’m not sure how Annabell would feel about that.  

Magazines, design and art books feature prominently on custom-made open shelves in the study as well as on a retro Scandi bookshelf in the living room. Dotted are small decorative objets collected on Masala's travels. The furniture pieces are distinctive and have been chosen for both their form and function — an appealing high/low mix of styles and eras.

The living room features a generously proportioned modular contemporary leather sofa alongside instantly recognisable design classics such as Achille Castiglioni’s Arco Floor Lamp for Flos, a low-level Eames Wire Base side table as well as a mid-century vintage chair in the living room is an original GE290 chair by Hans Wegner for Getama. Around the oversized dining table — a characterful weather-worn piece once used to display fruit and vegetables in one of Berlin’s open-air food markets — is a grouping of vintage Dutch Model S22 School Chairs by Galvanitas.

These chairs as well as several other items of furniture and lighting reflect Remo’s fondness for industrial design. Hanging above the table is a massive woven pendant lamp made in Tunisia. Texture such as stonewashed French linen window coverings and bedroom, study and bathroom walls in elegantly resonant colours such as Elephant by Flamant and Mole’s Breath by Farrow & Ball punctuate the spaces, lending a sense of layering and all-enveloping luxury.

Throughout the apartment is evidence of Masala's great love, his collection of art. Notable is a penchant for contemporary graphic illustration, with Masala citing a particular passion for the work of iconic Italian artist, illustrator, graphic designer and inventor, Bruno Munari (Masala has several pieces in a private collection).

One of the most interesting artworks is also the most intriguing: located on one of the living room walls, an installation of graphic type with an enigmatic message devised by his friend and past collaborator; the artist and philosopher Wolfgang Scheppe. The meaning of the piece has not yet been disclosed even to Masala. “I’ve been told that clues will be revealed bit by bit in the form of other small pieces of art that he is going to create,” he explains.

Though the apartment is a peaceful haven for Masala to return to when he’s not dashing across time zones or checking through passport control, his space also often resounds with the noise of friendly company. “Remo is a fantastic host,” enthuses Kutucu. “His heritage is Italian and Greek and his mother makes the best bolognese sauce ever, so we have had many beautiful dinners in this dining room, spending quality time with friends, eating delicious pasta and having a glass of really good wine.”

“Yes,” concurs Masala. “My schedule is all-consuming. So of all the elements I appreciate about living here, it’s the one you can’t see, buy or even adequately describe that I value most — the feeling of being home.”