Democratic values translated into spatial atmospheres: Interior design competition win for Bellevue Palace
In the competition to design the interiors of the representative rooms at Bellevue Palace, our proposal prevailed over ten other submissions. The concept, which was awarded first prize by the jury, both preserves and evolves the building’s historical layers by translating democratic values into spatial atmospheres. “The combination of existing and newly selected furnishings is consistently achieved to a high standard,” the jury concluded.
Berlin’s Bellevue Palace is the official residence of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany – and, as such, a symbolic place of democracy, dialogue, and encounter. Built in the Tiergarten in the 1780s and protected as a historic landmark, the palace is set to undergo extensive renovation in the coming years.
The interior concept is rooted in themes that were urgent in the past, resonate today, and will remain vital in the future: popular sovereignty, equality, remembrance, civil courage, freedom of the press, and responsibility toward future generations. Each of the central rooms is dedicated to one of these themes and named after a figure who embodies it. A curated selection of historical and contemporary furniture, together with a diverse palette of colors, materials, and artworks, creates distinct atmospheres that make each theme tangible and encourage conversation.
