Zeit für Brot is a growing bakery chain spread across Berlin and Germany where traditional baking craftsmanship merges with the current zeitgeist. We had the opportunity to design their flagship store in the heart of Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg.

Located on a vibrant corner with two long window fronts, the space gets flooded with daylight  the whole day through, a privilege which invites customers to lounge in the baywindow and hide out from the rushing city.

However, to provide maximum window space for seating and guests, the aim was to condense all functional facilities into one island, and push it into the back corner.
The island is surrounded by a long, circular counter with a custom concrete front, and keeps itself detached from the room’s structural elements.
The curvature is split into three sections. It starts with the bakers’ kneading table on one side, held behind a custom rounded glass front. It continues to the display space for the treats and coffee. Then, it blends into a huge wooden tribune from which customers can enjoy a different perspective overlooking the space.

Our aim was to differentiate from other Zeit für Brot shops and interpret the key elements of the bakery in a new way. The breadshelf, the counter, and the exposed “bakers cave” all stand out as handmade elements with a warm composition of materials carefully spliced together.

It was important for us to not only create another functional bakers space but make details matter and draw the same attention to the design and craft as the company draws to the selection of ingredients for their products.

I led the full process from architectural design through building execution.