Berlin

The minimal jungle of horticure founder Deborah Choi

The minimal jungle of horticure founder, Deborah Choi

The home of horticure founder Deborah Choi, is a tranquil space bathed in sunlight, with plants reaching all the way to the ceiling. Earlier this year I had the absolute pleasure to pay a visit to the home she calls her minimal jungle. It was a joyous morning filled with stories of plants and travels, of finding a home in foreign places and of creating value for others. Here’s a peak into all that transpired on that beautiful morning in August.

Tell us about horticure and the idea behind it.

“horticure is a consumer platform for plant care, connecting you with the knowledge, services and products that keep your houseplants happy and your indoor spaces green.”

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Where did the idea for horticure originate and how did you go about shaping it into a business?

“I got the idea for horticure after years of bad luck with my own houseplants, and having gone through the hassle numerous times, to find the plants I want locally and get them into my flat. I wanted convenience, I wanted access to expertise, and I realized there was an opportunity to create that for myself and others.”

Tell us a little about Deborah.

“I was born in Nigeria, though grew up in America as my parents immigrated to the US for better education and economic opportunities when I was three years old. Although I didn’t grow up there, I consider New York City to be home; I moved there a few years after university and it was this city that really formed me as an adult and also as a professional. I now have lived in Europe for a little over 4 years, and in Berlin for 3. But that’s just the geographic stuff! 🙂 Professionally, I’ve been an entrepreneur and business owner for the majority of my career: in this way, I’ve learned a lot of what I know about recruiting, branding, marketing, partnerships, tech and sales by doing (as I studied political theory at uni). Horticure is my 4th business, after first launching a fashion e-commerce brand, a media company and an innovation agency for venture-backed startups.”

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What are the values you bring to your business and professional practice?

“I’ve had the privilege to work as a consultant to improve the ideas and strategies of others, within corporate environments as a marketer, within media as a strategist, and also as a founder going from “0 to 1” a few times. These diverse experiences help me understand and know how to work with the influences, stakeholders and ecosystem around my newest venture much better than I could have, even 5 years ago. I view experiences as cumulative, and seek the ways to weave in what I’ve learned in the past, into today.”

What are your ultimate long term goals for horticure?

“We envision and aspire to a world filled with healthier, greener indoor spaces. For us this means thinking flexibly about the channels in which we deliver knowledge, services and products. For now, it’s via in-home services, video consultations and messaging. In the future, it could be via AI integrations, voice assistants, etc.”

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What are some of the biggest setbacks or challenges you face?

“We’re a marketplace business, which means we have to manage the growth of the supply (i.e. our horticulturists and plant suppliers) vs. the growth of demand (i.e. plant owners and plant shoppers). Generally speaking, managing “liquidity”, or having just the right amount of supply and demand is hard, and it’s hardest at the beginning, which is where we are!”

Are there any other brands, or companies who inspire you or where you draw inspiration from?

“I am really inspired by the service platforms that have nailed the user experience, and deliver a feeling of ‘ultra convenience’ for their users. I love using apps like Uber and Deliveroo for this reason: the experiences provide very little friction for me, simplify my decision-making and save my valuable time.”

What does sustainability mean to you as a business founder and what would you say are the biggest challenges business owners are facing with regard to the topic?

“For our users, we focus on keeping their houseplants happy and alive, so they can feel good at home and draw more of the well-being effects from having greenery indoors. The alternative–buying plants, killing them, repeating that–is wasteful. Nearly a billion euros is wasted each year in the UK in this exact process by people and companies.”

If you could give yourself advice in your twenties – what would it be?

“Take the risk: failure often isn’t failure, but regret is real.”

What brought you to Berlin, and what keeps you here?

“In a way, family brought me here. I first moved to Zurich, Switzerland four years ago from NYC, and I gave birth to my daughter there (her father is Swiss). But I knew I couldn’t be a happy me there, and also that staying in Europe would be important for my daughter to grow up with both her mother and father. My daughter keeps me here, but now three years in… there are exciting, other roots that root me here too: friends who are family, a nice quality of life, and now also this business venture.”

How would you describe your home, what influences your style and where do you draw inspiration from?

“I like to call my home style “minimal jungle”. Form and function, only having what I need, these ideas go into the furniture choices I’ve made. But I’ve also been very inspired to bring a lot of greenery indoors, as well as unique pieces from my travels to Marrakech, one of my favorite cities in the world. You’ll find a lot of natural materials in my home: bamboo, rattan, jute, cotton.”

Do you have a favourite piece of furniture or artefact? Tell us the story behind it.

“It’s always something with a story. Maybe the first that comes to mind is the new Berber rug in my flat, which I got the last time I was in Marrakech over the summer. I and the shop owner spent several hours bargaining; jotting down a number and pushing it back and forth across the table, over several cups of tea. At the end we shook hands, even snapped a photo together. Some find that process of buying in a market like the souqs as stressful. For me, it’s incredibly fun!”

There seems to be a rising trend of indoor plants and people filling their homes with plants. What do you think motivates people to bring greenery into their homes?

“We spend such a small amount of our time outdoors and in nature, less than 10%. Plants reconnect us, and can create a sense of well-being in any room with even one.”

Your number one tip plant-care tip for someone whose thumbs aren’t particularly green.

“Get watering right, and you can kind of ignore everything else… Over- and under-watering your plants is what leads into the bigger problems that then require more of your time, like pest control.”

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Text & Photography © Barbara Cilliers

Creative exchange

Interview with Blossom flower stylist, Maria Jivung

Maria Jivung, on staying true to your artistic values and the importance of nature on our wellbing

I first discovered Blossom when they had a small little flower boutique a short walk up my street in Prenzlauerberg. When I looked in to see how they were doing I discovered that their store had moved entirely online. Fortunately the team invited me for a visit at their home studio; a breathtaking Altbau in Wilmersdorf. I spent the morning with their flower stylist Maria Jivung, chatting about the poetry of flowers, the value of nature and following your creative gut.

Hey Maria. Tell us, how did you get into flower styling and working with Blossom?

“I’ve always been into flowers as long as I can remember. When I was only a few years old I went out in the garden making tiny bouquets. My mom used to read out loud from a flower dictionary, so I learned a lot in early years. I also got into fashion and was working in that field for many years. The last semester of my studies I got a strong desire to work with something creative and my interest for flowers just grew so when I moved to Berlin in summer 2018 I decided to give my passion a chance. After two weeks in Berlin I got a text from my best friend, she found an add on Facebook. Blossom by Hausklinik were looking for staff members and I remember my heart was beating super fast. I started to sweat that’s how excited I got! I wrote them and that was the start of something new. Not only did I find a company that resonated with me in so many ways, I also found my Berlin family. I will always be grateful for this”

Why do you prefer to work with dried flowers?

“First of all dried flowers are more sustainable than fresh. I’ve had days when I felt stressed or sad because we had to throw flowers away. That’s how it all started. Instead of throwing them we tried to dry them. All of a sudden we had a very small dried flower section and people were super into it! To be able to make something that people can enjoy for many years is great. Our products, whether it’s a bouquet or a wreath, become a part of someone’s home, shop or office, and I love that it can be more than just flowers, it’s home decoration and you can always choose colors that compliment your home. My place used to be filled with plants, these days I have more dried flowers arrangements, I really like the vibe they create, it’s calmer and more sophisticated. “

Mia Jivung with her dried flower creations

You showed me some older vintage vases. Is this part of your sustainable approach as well? Tell me more about that.

“That’s exactly right. Sustainability have always been a big part of Blossoms core values from choosing growers and products to CO2 neutral delivery. And like I mentioned before we always try to have as little waste as possible. Many flowers business throw up to 40% of their fresh flowers away. For me that’s just insane. Flower business needs to step up and take more responsibility and try new ways to be more sustainable. Since we did the rebranding we started to take even more actions. Now we have a small vintage collection and most of the products are bought second hand and made in Sweden. These days I have almost zero waste when it comes to flowers. When I make bouquets there’s always a few flower heads coming off, these are perfect for wreaths. When I make wreaths I pick up the small petals and we are now making dried flower confetti. Perfect to use as table decoration or at weddings.”

Do you think your Scandinavian background influences your aesthetic? Why do you think Scandinavia has such a strong faculty for aesthetics & design?

“100%! And getting older I realize more and more how important it is for me to stay connected to my roots. I would say that it’s the Scandinavian nature that influences me most, the wild and sometimes almost untouched nature and the contrast between the different seasons. It can be everything from color-combos to different kind of forms or textures. I definitely prefer natural elements/material in design in general whether it is a vase, sweater or a table.”

“Nature in general plays huge part for my creativity. When I’ve worked a lot, I need to escape to a forest or the ocean. After a few days I return to the city with a clear head and new ideas. Scandinavian design is famous for its minimalistic and clean design. We use a lot of natural materials and it’s quite timeless but most of all functional. It’s interesting that we in one way should thank Germany for that. The Swedish functionalism got attention at the Stockholm Exhibition in 1930, where a lot of ideas were influenced from the Bauhaus (German art school).”

You seem to have the perfect job; you can work with flowers, be creative and make a living from it. Are there any downsides to your work?

“Honestly this was the hardest question. I do really love my job and I’m so grateful to be able to work with something that gives me so much joy. Blossom was founded only two years ago and I was hired shortly after the opening and we literally worked our butts off. Working for a small start-up is so much fun but also draining. What has also been a challenge is to establish something different in the Berlin flower scene. People here are used to low prices in general and explaining why we have different pricing is sometimes exhausting.”

“I find that many people care about the environment; they buy organic food and clothing but when it comes to flowers it’s a different story.”

“Sometimes I think I could be bit harsh explaining to customers why a flower cost this or that. But I think is’s important to inform people what’s behind everything, to get an idea of the entire chain; from the farmer to wholesale to florist.”

I’ve had many conversations lately around the topic of art versus commercial activity. How would you say the commercial aspect influences your work or artistic practice?

“I think it’s so important to stay true to your artistic values and creativity, but it’s not always easy, especially when it’s a start-up and every cent is counted. But you can’t do everything or please every one. We’ve had a lot of requests that we had to turn down because it was simply not our style but it’s important to have an open mind and stay positive to new ideas, especially when you have your business in a foreign country. For example, we had no idea what an Adventskranz was, we don’t celebrate 1:st advent in the same way in Sweden, so here we had to adjust and give it our own twist. Last year we did a few wreaths that were all made of dried flowers. People spend a lot of money each year so why not get one that you can keep for years!”

Why do you think so many people resonate with the concept of dried flowers these days?

“First of all people are so into it because it became a trend. Simple as that, exactly like it did in the 60-70´s. When I walk around in our summer house I see dried flower arrangements that my grandmother made in the 60´s. How cool is that!? Secondly I think people like it because it’s long-lasting and therefore more sustainable. Now during the pandemic we haven’t been able to go outside as much or visit relatives or friends, so I think it’s been a great way to still have flowers on the table or send someone a nice bouquet.”

For me – flowers are like nature’s poems. Little gifts from mother earth. Beautiful and transitory. What role do you think nature plays in our lives?

“We underestimate what a big impact nature has on our wellbeing. I always say that nature is the best medicine, and I’m totally into the Japanese Shinrin Yoku, wich means “Forest Bathing” or “Forest Healing”. I believe that by living in big cities our senses are cut off. The air is polluted, it’s noisy and crowded and usually people are in a stressed headspace. For me it’s truly hard to stay healthy and positive and I try to escape the city at least once a month. I feel like the western/urban way of living has gone in the wrong direction. We have become so disconnected to what is real and really important.”

Do you have a philosophical approach when it comes to your work and how you choose to spend your time?

“It might sound corny, but we have one life so make sure you get most out of it and try not to be influenced too much by other’s opinions or society’s square box. Follow your heart and gut.”

“I remember working on an event 1,5 years ago, I was talking to a woman, and she told me that she always dreamed of working with flowers but then decided to “get a real job”. I could take this as an insult but I actually felt happy that I had the gut to follow mine.”

It’s never too late to do something new. I think that’s one of the perks of living today; you can choose to spend your time on many different things.”

Where do you like to go, to escape into nature and to “tune” out?

“My number 1 spot on this earth is Öland. An island located on the east coast of south Sweden. It’s truly magical. My family moved there from the mainland, and we also have an old wooden summer house from the 60s in the Northern part of the island. It’s always special going there, it’s like you can breath again and it smells like flowers, herbs and ocean. It has a different flora so you will find flowers that you can’t find on the mainland. It has the perfect mix of green forests, open lands and sandy beaches. One day I will live there.”

Mia Jivung with her dried flower bouquet

Who do you look to for inspiration? People, ideas, platforms? Anything that makes you feel energized about the world and a better positive future.

“I get inspired by friends and people around me. By someone who’s doing what he/she loves or someone that’s kind to others and has the gut to stand up for other people. I also get inspired by former times. The way people dressed and lived their lives. Growing their own veggies, making butter and bread, sewing and knitting their clothes. I got so exited seeing people getting into all this during lockdown. I really hope ”DIY” is here to stay. Humans are creative beings and it’s good for our mental health to create things. I just started to sew clothes out of old table clothes and I love it!!”

Tell me a little about the online shop Blossom recently launched? How can my readers support you?

“We sadly had to close our physical shop because of corona, so we decided to go online until things are more back on track. Being closed for a few months we had time to think about the future and what direction we want to go. We are now focusing on dried flowers mainly. We have a better capacity to take personal custom orders and I really like having a closer connection to our customers. This can be super inspiring because I do things that I wouldn’t have been thinking of. At the moment we only deliver within Berlin but our goal is to expand to Germany. Getting the support from people is more important than ever, and we are so happy to have so many regular customers. In these times it’s so important to support your small local businesses.”

Text & Photography © Barbara Cilliers

Back to the wild

Out to forage

Things I learnt while foraging

A year ago in June, I met Siobhán O’Callaghan, founder of Primitivkollektiv, who’s since become a good friend of mine. Back then Siobhan gathered a group of plant enthusiasts, and together we took a trip to an abandoned castle. There, the air thick with the heat of summer, beetles and bugs abound, we set out to forage. I with my eyes, ears and camera. An eager student. My companions with their knowledge of edible plants, growing in the wild. Little did I realise then, the deep and lasting impression this sunny day would have on me.

Moving amongst the trees, the search for sustenance steered our footfalls. As I learnt the names of the plants we collected, I was learning too, a new language. One of communion. Between myself and my environment. Deeper into the woodland I went. Deeper into a new way of being. A shift took place. A feeling that I did not know how to bring to words. But I could feel it take shape. And it was exhilarating.

How exciting, I thought, that my immediate landscape, could provide me with nearly instant nourishment. It seemed effortless and required little work. Nature, was simply providing. Like gifts to us without the need to till and work the land – something which I have come to learn has devastating effects on our soil anyway.

My misgiving of our current ways of doing things–like monocultures, agriculture, importing foodstuffs–grew stronger. I wondered then, whether our efforts towards domestication, in fact drove us away from our environments. As if trying to control it, taming it, bending it to our will, we changed ourselves more than we changed her. Banishing ourselves, once again, from the garden of Eden. Our mother. Our home. Into the devastating world of “progress”. The kingdom of the ego. Of strife.

Our landscapes have become a resource for us to exploit. To take from, instead of the friendship it should to be; where both give and take with care and attention. A symbiotic relationship instead of the parasites we seem to have turned ourselves into.

I say these harsh words because foraging too, is now causing harm in places. Beautiful pristine environments are destroyed by newcomers who fail to listen to the earth. But perhaps you cannot directly blame people who have yet to learn the language of our mother. I know I haven’t. I’m trying now to do so.

But let’s go back to that pleasant afternoon amongst the trees. Picking plantain and nettles. Yes – the weeds we find in the nooks and crannies of our streets. Still, in our every attempt to cultivate our landscape, the earth finds ways to provide. Whether we want her to or not. Through the tarmac and mortar, coltsfoot and dandelion still show up. Tough and relentless. Jam packed with sustenance. Superfoods, right on our doorstep.

But off course, here in the forgotten world of schloss Dhamsmuhlen, they were bountiful. Happy and healthy companions, perhaps more so because the area is mostly abandoned. Plenty of space for elderberries and shepherds purse to run wild.

I learnt that day out foraging, that if I could find a way to listen, mother earth would teach me things. Showing me how to take care of myself and in turn, of her.

Text & Photography © Barbara Cilliers

Berlin

Feng Shui designer’s apartment in Berlin

Berlin based interior designer Line Casselman on design, sustainability and a little bit of Qi.

I found designer Line’s work on Instagram, and it was a little like love at first sight. When I knocked on her door a few days later for an interview, I thought it curious (and awesome!) how easily people welcomed me into their homes. But then Line opened the door, and at meeting her for the first time in person, I felt like we could just as well have been friends forever. Stepping into her beautiful apartment, I simply felt so comfortable and at home. Whether it is Line’s welcoming demeanour and warm energy, her lovely collection of plants or her clever use of Qi, I cannot say. All I know is I did not want to leave and I can’t wait to visit her again. Here is her story:

Tell us a little about Studio Mosbech.

“I started studying psychology and did a bachelor in economics. After that I worked in marketing for a short time but I wasn’t really happy. Finally I realized I wanted to do something more creative. I then did my Master’s degree in Interior Design in Italy. I couldn’t be more happy that I chose this career. It was a path of learning and growing. Now looking back, everything makes totally sense to me. It just took me a couple of different steps to get where I am at the moment. Finally, it all comes together. Now I use all my skills combined in Feng Shui, which is all about the individual human being and it’s environment. This is just perfect for me.”

“With Studio Mosbech I aim to create individual spaces that harmonize with its habitants needs and wishes. On top of that I match it up with the specific rules of Feng Shui. I love bringing joy to people by creating these spaces and turning apartments or houses into individual homes that express the owners’ personality. The same applies to restaurants or shops and their owners.”

Beautiful apartment of Berlin based interior designer

I love the calming energy in your house. How would you describe your style and how do you create such a tranquil mood?

“I’m definitely influenced by my environment and my Danish roots, but I don’t consciously follow trends. I love imperfection and mixing different styles. One style or direction can get very boring in my opinion. Everything I own has a story and some pieces I’ve had for many years from travelling, or handmade by my grandpa in Denmark.”

“I think each home grows with time. Mine for sure did. For me it’s definitely the individual touch that makes a house a home. I love earthy tones, natural materials and greenery which I also mostly use in my projects. This creates my very own personal retreat.”

What does sustainability mean to you and how do you bring it into your design practice?

“We have to realize how our decisions influence our environment. It is important to understand the context between choices and impact. For my work it means to use alternative sustainable products. My goal is to create designs that will last for years rather than following quick trends that will be gone in a minute. There are different levels to sustainability. One is the obvious like using decomposable, recycled or second hand products. The other level has to do with my workflow. I try to keep printing to a minimum by using digital concepts, invoices and contracts for example. But of course there is always room to improve.”

Are there any other brands, companies or designers with a sustainable approach who inspire you or where you draw inspiration from?

“There are so many incredible people out there that want to make our world better. I love to follow dariadaria from Austria. She really knows what she’s talking about when it comes to sustainability. I also really love the design and company values of skagerak.dk – like responsible production and long-lasting designs. Regionally I like johanenlies and their way of reusing old wood and metals. Kiezbett is also really nice. I like the design and that they only use regional wood for their products. I appreciate everyone out there who try to take responsibility and care for our world. This inspires and motivates me to do the same.”

Where do you think the industry could still improve?

“I feel like the furniture industry is adapting to the fashion industry. It is fast-paced in terms of trends. As a result, the quality is not as high as it used to be. I think we should all decrease our consumption of poorly produced products. But there is a lot of development. Recycled materials and totally new sustainable materials are playing a much bigger roll now. Nikolaj Thrane for example, introduced furniture that were made out of sea grass at this years Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair. Other brands built chairs out of recycled plastic from broken fisher nets. There are many alternatives coming up. So I hope the big players will take responsibility and jump on the environmental bandwagon.”

Beautiful baclcony of interior designer in Berlin

Your house is filled with beautiful plants. Do you make use of plants in your work for clients as well? What role would you say they play in creating atmospheric spaces?

“Thank you! I love plants! Ha ha ha. Again it depends on their individual desires. Every human being is individual and for my job it is important to take that into account. I know that not everyone likes to take care of plants. For me, plants bring life to a place and make it cosy. Not to mention that some plants improve the air you are breathing. Other plants use your air, so in Feng Shui you wouldn’t really place plants in your bedroom. That is where I make an exception. I just have too many! Ha ha ha. (But I definitely chose the ones with positive impact for the bedroom.)”

Do you have a favourite species?

“I love the different varieties of calatheas because of their pattern and colours. The leaves are alive and are closing for sleeping at night. You can really see them breathe! How cute is that? I especially have a heart for special plants and nicely coloured leaves.”

Living room of Berlin based interior designer

Apartment of Berlin based interior designer Line Casselman

Tell us about all the wonderful old things in your home – what’s the story behind them all?

“Our families pre loved most of the things we own. Our kitchen table and cupboard are from my grandparents. It was the first kitchen furniture they had together. And now it’s the first of my boyfriend and mine. I hope it is a good omen for our relationship since they were married for 65 years, ha ha ha. I also own some nice wooden furniture my grandpa in Denmark made himself in his little studio back in the day. I’ve loved the smell of wood ever since I was a little girl watching him work. In general, I love to give old things a new life and home. But beside the fun factor, I think it is necessary to work with what we already have around instead of producing and consuming new stuff.”

Do you use vintage and second hand objects in your work as well? Where do you go to find the best items?

“It depends on my clients’ needs and wishes, but I would always recommend second hand and vintage before buying new. Especially when I work with smaller budgets it’s compelling to have to explore the secondary market to get similar appealing results. It’s so much fun to get the best out of the budget and hunt down forgotten treasures and bring them to new shine. I really like eBay Kleinanzeigen, fleamarkets and some antique retailers. But Berlin can be a bit tricky sometimes. Prices are quite high so you have to be quick and always have to keep an eye out. But if you go outside Berlin you can still be lucky to get nice stuff. Sometimes it’s even worth it to look on the streets. You can find real treasures”.

Home of interior designer Line Casselman

What inspired you to study Feng Shui? Tell us a little more about the practice.

“Many people consult Feng Shui consultants because they have a problem to solve like a bad night sleep, illness or problems in a relationship. For me it was pure interest. I finished my Master in Interior Design and after some projects I realized it just didn’t feel complete. It felt right to pair my Interior Designs skills with the holistic approach of Feng Shui.”

“Feng Shui can bring harmony to your environment and positively turn the energy around. In a Feng Shui consultation I’ll visit your home and measure the cardinal points. After getting some information such as the birthdates of all the residents and the year of moving in, I can start with my calculation. As Qi (a kind of energy) changes over time, the date you moved in is important to calculate and define the changes of Qi. Afterwards I’ll recommend an interior concept that fits your personal needs. Of course there are many other solutions for individual problems (as I mentioned before) but this would go to deeper into the topic.”

How long did it take and how has it changed your design approach?

“The first course takes around 4-5 months. But it is a lifetime of learning and a process after all. Like Yoga and Qi Gong are working with the energy inside yourself, Feng Shui is working with the energy of your surrounding. Every yogi out there will agree, that there is always more to learn. Taking that into consideration it definitely changed my point of view how to build up design. Where to place furniture is not only an aesthetic question. It also has impact on the human being living there. With Feng Shui I can take actions to bundle energy and lead it in to a positive direction.”

Home office of interior designer based in Berlin

Home office of interior designer Line Casselman

Entrepreneurial life can be a tough at times. What would you say is the hardest thing about being your own boss and how do you beat those blues?

“Actually I even love to do my taxes! Ha ha ha. I really appreciate that I can work for myself, and I am very thankful, so I am happy for all the things that come with it. But getting in touch with like-minded people and proactively looking for clients is sometimes hard for me. I am not really the networking person. But I try to overcome myself. It actually is not that hard once you dared.”

Any words of wisdom or mantras you live by?

“Don’t be afraid of what might happen. Everything that happens will make you grow. Something like that… One of my life lessons is that sooner or later every experience makes sense somehow. Even negative phases in your life will turn out as the most positive growing after time.”

Do you think individuals can live more sustainably? Where would you advise we begin?

“I think most of us can do more than we already are. We have to. It is important to always reflect and stay informed. But I also think that we shouldn’t be too perfectionist. If every human being does a little, in total it is a lot. We cannot change from one day to the other. It is a process for which awareness is essential.”

“In short term I would advise to avoid producing too much waste. To begin with always having your own carry bag when shopping. Checking out your weekly market instead of buying plastic wrapped cucumbers. Make your own sparkling water instead of buying it in plastic bottles. If you take coffee to-go, take your own cup.”

“In the long term there are different steps you can take: try sharing vehicles. Use green power providers. In terms of Interiors I would always recommend to check out second hand first before buying new. There are also many sustainable/decomposable household items you can use like sponges made out of agave, wooden toothbrushes, reusable paper-towels made out of bamboo, etc. There are a lot of nice and well-designed stuff out there especially in such a varied city as Berlin.”

“Try to reflect and consume what you really need. It is always a balancing act between self-fulfilment and ecological responsibility. Always keep in mind what makes you really happy. This sounds way to know-it-all but a couple of years ago I didn’t apply these standards myself. As I said, it’s a process and it begins with awareness. There are a lot of easy steps to begin with. I hope we (mankind) will do better in the future.”

What is your favourite thing about Berlin and how does it inspire or influence your creativity?

“There are so many creative and cool people living here. We all grow and inspire each other and there are so many super nice places to discover. But it’s also overwhelming sometimes. Berlin is growing and changing all the time and it’s hard to keep track of. It is always full of humans and it can be very hectic. I am very sensitive which makes it necessary to have a place to calm down in the end of a day. My home helps me retreat. There is room to breathe and dream and to restore my creativity.”

Whats your favourite spots in Berlin for:

Breakfast or coffee: Two And Two in Pannierstraße, delicious cake and a nice selection of coffee.

Spending a hot summers day: At one of the beautiful lakes Berlin and Brandenburg have to offer.

Spending a cold winters day: At home with candles, tea and self-made cookies.

Finding inspiration: Everywhere.

A night out with friends: Drinking cocktails at Herr Lindemann. They use healing herbs as ingredients. They really have the best.

Interview with interior designer Line Casselman

For more information about Line and Studio Mosbech, have a look at her website and don’t forget to follow her on Instagram @studiomosbech.

Text & Photography © Barbara Cilliers

Berlin

The team supporting communities through sustainable architecture

WEbuilding: Supporting communities through sustainable architecture

Life is filled with unexpected synergies. A few weeks ago I came across a story of architect Diébédo Francis Kéré and a school he built in Burkina Faso. I was drawn to his work not only for its beauty, but also the purpose it served. Hailing from South Africa, I’ve always been confronted with and troubled by the poor states of schools across our continent. I felt inspired by his pursuits and thought, I’d like to interview someone like him one day. Two days later I found a message in my inbox. It wasn’t from Kéré off course, but indeed another Berlin based architecture practice – an NGO in fact – called WEbuilding.

Together with their team of volunteers, the WE Building founders Laura Gómez Agudelo and Ivan Rališ, have a surprisingly similar objective; that is to build schools in impoverished communities and doing it through sustainable practices. They invited me to spend a morning at the vibrant Sari-Sari space they share with Nowhere Kitchen in Neukölln, to learn more about their work and to talk about the beautiful school they just finished in Ghana. This is their story.

Tell is a little about WEbuilding and how it all started.

Laura: “While I was at the university I discovered one can actually practice architecture in an NGO environment and help people in need. I was fascinated by the idea and as soon as I graduated I left to Ghana, where I worked at a small NGO doing the site management for the construction of a youth center.”

“A few years after, while already living in Berlin, I got in contact with that same NGO and they told me that they bought a plot, and that the community was planning to build a school.”

“We initially got involved only to design the architecture project, but very soon we figured we could try to find financing in order to build it. That required us to register an official non profit in Germany to be allowed to apply for any and that’s how WEbuilding was born.”

What is the drive behind the NGO, why do you do it and what keeps you going?

Laura: “I have no other option. Ever since that first volunteering job in Ghana it became my passion. Over the years I’ve gotten “distracted” with some other work, but somehow I always come back to this “architecture to help people” world. There is nothing more interesting that I could do and I feel extremely grateful to live in an environment that allows me to do it. Currently I work 28 hours a week in my paying job, and I devote the rest of the time to work in WEbuilding.”

Tell us about the first school in Damang, Ghana. Why did you decide to build it sustainably and how did you manage that?

Laura: “Even though our primary goal is the social part, and that meant building a school for the children in Damang, there is always a decision on which materials and construction techniques to use. After a few months of living in Ghana, I realized local construction in the rural areas (which is made out of natural materials) doesn’t seem to be liked by the locals. We found that it’s a pity that a country where once foreign people came to learn about earth construction mostly turned its back on its own tradition. We thought we could use some more modern ideas and still be able to use natural and sustainable materials so that the maintenance is easier and the quality of the construction remains as high as it would be by using the “normal” materials.”

“We managed to build it, both sustainable and unsustainable parts, only with the support of a lot of people who volunteered their time and expertise to get it done. Although we had very experienced local contractors doing most of the construction work, in order to build everything exactly as we planned, we needed to do a lot of supervising of our own. While we were running things from a distance via Whatsapp and endless emails, our colleague Masa temporarily moved from Leipzig and spent six months in Damang overseeing the construction. Various other volunteers, mostly architects, spent around a month each on-site and helped out with whatever was needed. Most of us gathered for the school opening last September and it felt great to share that moment together.”

What does sustainability mean to you as architects and how do you apply the thinking to your process?

Ivan: “Sustainability is the buzzword nowadays, which is great, but in our field it should be taken with some moderation and adjusted to the project and the location. The most important thing is to find out which “sustainable” materials are available locally and then try to use that and not force something just for the sake of it.”

“We try to find some middle ground here and combine, as we did in the Damang project, using concrete, earth blocks and wood together. Sometimes being too sustainable could actually be unsustainable.”

Is building in a sustainable way harder than using other conventional methods? What makes it so?

Ivan: “Building sustainable requires a much higher level of knowledge from everyone in the design chain, especially the builders. It’s easy to say “let’s build this from rammed earth and old car tires” but if there is no one on site that actually has the know-how then it just doesn’t work. Taken all this into account, sustainable often means it is not cheap.”

“In our case we were lucky to meet Samuel, while doing our first “material scouting” trip back in 2015, and his fairly advanced compressed earth blocks that he does with a custom-made hydraulic machine. We immediately knew we had our main material and it is the one that gives the recognisable look to the classrooms.”

“These blocks are nothing new, they have been around in the 1950s in South America, but if there was not a “Samuel” doing them, one hour away from the school site, we would probably have to use something else.”

What was your biggest challenge in getting the first school built? How did you overcome this?

Laura: “It was a long process with a lot of challenges, but it always comes down to money. Getting the project funded was by far the hardest. With most other things it is in your power to accomplish the goals – be it from the whole administrative puzzle of registering a non-profit organisation in Germany, or carrying out the whole project management over WhatsApp.”

“But when it comes down to money applications, the only thing you can do is be stubborn and persistent and keep at it until you get a bit lucky. Took us around two years to finally manage it.”

Going through the process of building the school in Ghana, were there any surprises or things that happened that was totally unexpected? Even good surprises count here. If any.

Ivan: “Every day was a surprise! One day water well dries out, the other cement mixer brakes, then morning work starts, and we find a bunch of little kids’ footprints in our freshly poured concrete slab and so on. And apparently a 10 mm steel bar is called a 12 mm in Ghana. First we though we were cheated, then we realised it is a common practice of naming things.”

“The most pleasant surprise was to actually walk in those classrooms and realise we’ve all actually managed to pull it off. We were around only at the beginning of the construction, we followed it through photos and daily conversations. But to actually open the door and see that it turned out even better than we thought, was pretty amazing.”

What are you working on next and what are the biggest challenges you now face with this next project?

Laura: “We have a few ongoing projects. Another school in Koforidua, Ghana, where the projects are already done, and we’re applying for funding. A youth center in Douala, Cameroon, two potential school projects for indigenous communities in Colombia and the project that’s taking most of our time at the moment – Humbi Farm in Mozambique. The local NGO wants to make their existing children center more self sustainable by complementing it with a large permaculture farm, together with various buildings – greenhouse, workshops and basic volunteer accommodation.”

“Beside architecture projects, we are also trying to start a regular program for children workshops, and try to bring closer the culture of the countries we’re working in – currently Ghana, to the kids in Berlin.”

“The biggest challenge right now is trying to make our WEbuilding team bigger and incorporate more volunteers, since in order to do all those projects we definitely need more help.”

In your opinion, where is the biggest deficiency in architectural practices in the drive towards sustainability?

Ivan: “Sustainable architecture is mostly related to organic materials. There are big challenges that come from that. As an architect, designing buildings that use materials like earth or straw requires a lot of knowledge that you normally don’t get at a university. You have to investigate on your own, take various courses, do workshops, or if you don’t have that knowledge or time to learn it yourself, collaborate with people that know more than you. Once it comes down to construction, you actually need people on-site that know what they are doing and how to build with such materials. Or you need someone to teach everyone involved how to do it. All that should be taken into account even before starting the design.”

“And after all that, comes the hardest part, that doesn’t even have anything to do with architecture – maintenance! I would say maintaining public buildings is a big problem almost everywhere in the world – there is always a budget to build things, but rarely do you see budgets mentioning maintenance. So, now when your building is not completely made out of concrete that will stay there no matter what for generations, but rather out of earth or bamboo, you need local people with the knowledge and resources to take care of it year after year.”

How would you propose to solve this if at all solvable?

Ivan: “Little steps. Building more projects like we did, which use slightly more alternative methods of construction. But these sustainable alternatives shouldn’t be significantly more expensive, otherwise they will never catch on. Sustainable architecture here in Europe is a different thing, economically based on long term savings in heating and cooling. In tropical countries a different approach is needed.”

“What we see as crucial in this process is communication and open sharing of information with anyone interested in doing similar projects. Maybe even creating a “library” of some sorts – including advice, average prices, contacts etc. If we did some mistakes, there is no need for someone else to do them all over again. I suppose lots of architects do projects like these, once or twice in their career and then continue with their other work, and a lot of that knowledge and networking gets forgotten.

And finally, just for fun – Where are your favourite spots in Berlin for:

Breakfast or coffee: “Croissanterie in Pannierstrasse for breakfast or coffee at coffee corner in Kottbuserdamm.”

Spending a hot summers day: “In our rubber boat hanging out in the canal.”

Spending a cold winters day: “At home.”

Finding inspiration: “I’m very practical and I don’t look for inspiration.”

A night out with friends: “Späti inside Hasenheide.”

You can find out more about WEbuilding and how to get involved through their website. Or follow them on Instagram @webuilding to see what they are up to next.

Step inside

Berlin apartment, by Quiet Studios

My friend Daniela Franchechini from Quiet Studios, has designed yet another beautiful studio apartment in Berlin. The prewar building with high ceilings and wooden floors, provided the perfect canvas for her to create a stylish temporary residence, and an absolute gem for me to shoot.

Even though the apartment has a tiny footprint, the space feels vast and spacious thanks to the high ceilings and large windows. Capitalising on the vertical space, Daniela incorporated a custom made Hochbett (German for raised bed). This separates the public living space from the private, and allows for a more cozy and intimate bedroom area, with space for storage or a wardrobe below.

The apartment has a calm and elegant design, a fine balance between aesthetics, comfort and homeliness. The understated elegance, is rooted in the honesty of the space and the integrity of the pieces. Daniela always chooses objects with character, furnishings that tell a story other than the usual mass market Ikea aesthetic.

The furniture, minimal yet functional, is a mix of midcentury and antique pieces sourced from local Berlin dealers. The bespoke kitchen is basic with open shelves and natural woods. Daniela, collaborating with experienced carpenters, excels in creating made to measure environments that add a hand crafted warmth to her sophisticated spaces.

Her background in sustainability makes Daniela sensitive to human nature and its relation to interiors and design. The individual is always at the centre of her design approach; how a space will affect his or her mood and behaviour, and how they move and interact within in an environment. This allows her to create a true feeling of homeliness, within her calm, minimal spaces.

Berlin

Nosh Deli in Berlin

I do not write about restaurants all that often. And there’s a really good reason why. In order for a place to make it to these pages, they have to meet three specific criteria. Number one is off course a beautiful interior with a great energy and atmosphere. Secondly, the food needs to be better than my mom’s cooking. Finally the service has to be really great. Trust me, in Berlin, this trifecta is not that easy to find.

But, in the heart of Schöneberg’s Rote Insel, a couple of blocks down Leberstraße, there is a tiny deli, that ticks all three of these boxes. Around two and a half years ago, owner Erdal Balli, transformed the garage that once stood here, into the vibrant eatery now called Nosh.

Balli, who used to own Stellwerk down in Steglitz, is no stranger to the culinary scene. You may recognise his surname on a few kebab shops around Berlin, owned by Balli’s family. After 12 years of running quite a sizeable restaurant, Erdal decided to scale down to a smaller, more flexible eatery, to make more time for his family. His head chef from Stellwerk, now commands the kitchen at Nosh, where food from all kinds of cultures come together.

The menu is a cosmopolitain mix of influences; from Mongolian Beef Pasta to Ukrainien Wareniki. Derived from the Yiddish “naschen” which means to snack or nibble, the name Nosh is a testament to the restaurant’s east-european jewish influence and Balli’s own connection to the Russian and jewish communities in Berlin.

When I mention to Erdal how I always notice fresh flowers whenever I’m there, he quickly attributes it to his wife Viji’s keen counsel. She coincidentally runs Mokalola cafè next door and makes sure that Erdal keeps his finger on the finer details.

Clearly though Erdal has quite an eye for good design himself, and laughingly admits to a slight obsession with beautiful chairs. The tasteful interior is the result of his own directives; from the mid century chairs he sourced from e-bay, to the tables he had custom made. The wonderful factory lamps from a former GDR factory, he salvaged, cleaned up and had rewired. They now serve as beautiful statement pieces above each table.

The restaurant recently extended their open hours from 12 in the afternoon on Monday through to Thursdays. The rest of the week you’ll find them open between five and eleven. During warmer summer days, you can enjoy your food on the outside terrace upstairs. But you don’t have to wait for better weather to nosh on a delicious meal. Even on a cold winter’s evening, their Halloumi salad remains one of my favourites.

Find Nosh here:

Leberstrasse 21, Berlin, Germany (See on map)

Follow them here:

Nosh Deli Facebook Page

Story + Photos by Barbara Cilliers

Berlin

Coffee & cozy at FreiRaum cafe

Without the anticipation of Christmas and thrill of Sylvester, Berlin can be pretty grey and gloomy in January. So if you need some motivation to leave the house, head over to FreiRaum on Katzbachstraße. With their two wood burning stoves and logs to last all winter you’ll be hard pressed to find a cafe more cozy. Owners Oguz and his wife Nihal, have done an amazing job at creating an atmosphere so inviting that you just won’t want to leave.

But if you can’t be coaxed on looks alone, come for their amazing coffee and delectable edibles. Everything is home-made and freshly baked by Nihal and Oguz, whom you’re certain to meet on your visit. Originally from Turkey, Oguz moved to Berlin 6 years ago. He studied economy and was a diving instructor before practising gastronomy here in Berlin. Nihal, who grew up in Berlin, is an art therapist, and initially used the space as her studio.

The idea for FreiRaum came about when Nihal fell pregant. The family found an apartment above her studio, and because she was about to stop working they decided the turn it into a coffee shop. Oguz and Nihal did the interiors themselves, with an effort to maintain an eco friendly approach.

Eight months later the resulting design was simple and understated with a focus on earthy colours and natural materials like bare clay walls and wood panelling. Coupled with old wooden floors, wild flowers and woolly throws, the space is reminiscent of a mountain cabin in Scandinavia.

It’s down-to-earth aura is even more enhanced by the child friendly elements like tiny chairs and wooden horse. It’s no surprise that the owners themselves have two kids, Eftalya, now two and a half and her 15 year old brother, Tanyel.

I simply love hanging out here. For Oguz and Nihal it’s become a true Kiezcafe. A place where families gather, wonderful exchanges occur and friendships begin. Do come and have a look for yourself, on Katzbachstraße 24, Kreuzberg.

Berlin

The minimal jungle of horticure founder, Deborah Choi

Tell us about horticure and the idea behind it.

Where did the idea for horticure originate and how did you go about shaping it into a business?

Tell us a little about Deborah.

What are the values you bring to your business and professional practice?

What are your ultimate long term goals for horticure?

What are some of the biggest setbacks or challenges you face?

Are there any other brands, or companies who inspire you or where you draw inspiration from?

What does sustainability mean to you as a business founder and what would you say are the biggest challenges business owners are facing with regard to the topic?

If you could give yourself advice in your twenties – what would it be?

“Take the risk: failure often isn’t failure, but regret is real.”

What brought you to Berlin, and what keeps you here?

How would you describe your home, what influences your style and where do you draw inspiration from?

Do you have a favourite piece of furniture or artefact? Tell us the story behind it.

There seems to be a rising trend of indoor plants and people filling their homes with plants. What do you think motivates people to bring greenery into their homes?

Your number one tip plant-care tip for someone whose thumbs aren’t particularly green.

Text & Photography © Barbara Cilliers

Maria Jivung, on staying true to your artistic values and the importance of nature on our wellbing

Hey Maria. Tell us, how did you get into flower styling and working with Blossom?

Why do you prefer to work with dried flowers?

You showed me some older vintage vases. Is this part of your sustainable approach as well? Tell me more about that.

Do you think your Scandinavian background influences your aesthetic? Why do you think Scandinavia has such a strong faculty for aesthetics & design?

You seem to have the perfect job; you can work with flowers, be creative and make a living from it. Are there any downsides to your work?

I’ve had many conversations lately around the topic of art versus commercial activity. How would you say the commercial aspect influences your work or artistic practice?

Why do you think so many people resonate with the concept of dried flowers these days?

For me – flowers are like nature’s poems. Little gifts from mother earth. Beautiful and transitory. What role do you think nature plays in our lives?

Do you have a philosophical approach when it comes to your work and how you choose to spend your time?

Where do you like to go, to escape into nature and to “tune” out?

Who do you look to for inspiration? People, ideas, platforms? Anything that makes you feel energized about the world and a better positive future.

Tell me a little about the online shop Blossom recently launched? How can my readers support you?

Text & Photography © Barbara Cilliers

Things I learnt while foraging

Text & Photography © Barbara Cilliers

Wild about nature?

Berlin based interior designer Line Casselman on design, sustainability and a little bit of Qi.

Tell us a little about Studio Mosbech.

I love the calming energy in your house. How would you describe your style and how do you create such a tranquil mood?

What does sustainability mean to you and how do you bring it into your design practice?

Are there any other brands, companies or designers with a sustainable approach who inspire you or where you draw inspiration from?

Where do you think the industry could still improve?

Your house is filled with beautiful plants. Do you make use of plants in your work for clients as well? What role would you say they play in creating atmospheric spaces?

Do you have a favourite species?

Tell us about all the wonderful old things in your home – what’s the story behind them all?

Do you use vintage and second hand objects in your work as well? Where do you go to find the best items?

What inspired you to study Feng Shui? Tell us a little more about the practice.

How long did it take and how has it changed your design approach?

Entrepreneurial life can be a tough at times. What would you say is the hardest thing about being your own boss and how do you beat those blues?

Any words of wisdom or mantras you live by?

Do you think individuals can live more sustainably? Where would you advise we begin?

What is your favourite thing about Berlin and how does it inspire or influence your creativity?

Whats your favourite spots in Berlin for:

Text & Photography © Barbara Cilliers

Energized by stories from creators?

WEbuilding: Supporting communities through sustainable architecture

Tell is a little about WEbuilding and how it all started.

What is the drive behind the NGO, why do you do it and what keeps you going?

Tell us about the first school in Damang, Ghana. Why did you decide to build it sustainably and how did you manage that?

What does sustainability mean to you as architects and how do you apply the thinking to your process?

Is building in a sustainable way harder than using other conventional methods? What makes it so?

What was your biggest challenge in getting the first school built? How did you overcome this?

School in Damang. Images © WEbuilding

Going through the process of building the school in Ghana, were there any surprises or things that happened that was totally unexpected? Even good surprises count here. If any.

What are you working on next and what are the biggest challenges you now face with this next project?

In your opinion, where is the biggest deficiency in architectural practices in the drive towards sustainability?

How would you propose to solve this if at all solvable?

And finally, just for fun – Where are your favourite spots in Berlin for:

Text & Photography © Barbara Cilliers

Energized by stories from creators?

Berlin apartment, by Quiet Studios

My friend Daniela Franchechini from Quiet Studios, has designed yet another beautiful studio apartment in Berlin. The prewar building with high ceilings and wooden floors, provided the perfect canvas for her to create a stylish temporary residence, and an absolute gem for me to shoot.

Text & Photography © Barbara Cilliers

Wild about interiors?

Nosh Deli in Berlin

Find Nosh here:

Follow them here:

Coffee & cozy at FreiRaum cafe