Sabine Voggenreiter - Köln
Sabine Voggenreiter
City of Interiors
Cologne is a furniture city and Sabine Voggenreiter is partially guilty of that. In 1989 she invited Cologne-based designer, furniture stores, design galleries and universities and connected them with international manufacturers and designers. Although they did not meet at conference tables or trade fair booths, on the contrary, they came together beneath the Deutz bridge or the Rheinau port. During a time where design became more popular, Sabine Voggenreiter established new connections between design and other genres and between every-day life. She made the Passagen the biggest design event in Germany and turned the whole city into a stage. Voggenreiter still puts contemporary design not only inside of showrooms, but she also lets her audience witness inside a cultural institute what a florist from Cologne can do with Italian design vases. Doing that, Sabine Voggenreiter stimulates the idea of urban development from the bottom up. “I like it when creative quarters are established, just like the Belgian quarter or Ehrenfeld”. Long since, workshops are a part of her work, currently she evaluates the collaboration between design and local craftsmanship – not only in Cologne.
Besteckhaus Glaub
But what about 'in the beginning there was the spoon'? Until 1995, questions far beyond this one were clarified by Besteckmuseum Glaub. Meanwhile, the Besteckhaus with the same name has taken over this task in a corner space of a historic 50's building. Wilhelm Koep, one of the famous "House of 4711" architects, was responsible for the interior design. Half of Europe - whether film team or gastronomy student - relies on the expertise of the Besteckhaus operators and can admire over 500 cutlery samples from over the centuries here. Partly retail trade, partly exhibition space, as well as offering expertise and repair service, this gem of food culture and unbroken tradition is located very close to the cathedral, offering a genuine journey through time, away from the shopping streets.
Autor: Jens Kobler
Komödienstr. 107-113 50667 Köln http://www.besteckhaus-glaub.com
Boffi
Art Director Piero Lissoni from Milan has designed two exquisite floors for the northern Italian manufacturer, which serve as showrooms but also offer regular new productions. If the space is already a pleasure in terms of interior design, the complete product line from kitchen and bathroom to storage and accessories can be even more exciting. If you do not at the moment have the small change to afford yourself a new living space – or a functional design solution - you can take the opportunity to pay a low-threshold visit to their occasional event formats: exhibitions, whiskey tastings, truffle seminars and workshops are held in the Spichern Höfen several times a year. And at imm cologne, you can always expect a high-profile special exhibition from them.
Autor: Jens Kobler
Spichernstr. 8 50672 Köln http://www.boffi-koeln.com
Daikan
Izakaya Bar is the culinary Japanese emblem in the Belgian part of the cathedral city. Correspondingly, food and drinks are equally important here and optimally complement each other perfectly. This, in turn, does not contradict a certain minimalist simplicity of the place, which operates entirely beyond a sushi snack bar or the likes. Reduction manifested in solid wood, ceramics and modern Wabi-Sabi. As if to make a clear distinction, they don't serve sushi here at all, but soups, charcoal grilled food, noodles and tapas. Fusion. Some call it "snacks," but the quality is by far too good. It's a bit the case of simply submitting yourself, preferably with some time on your hands and a somewhat filled wallet, to also enjoy the naturally cultivated beer, wine and/or sake. Then, the charm from the Far East can optimally manifest itself.
Autor: Jens Kobler
Maastrichter Str. 9 50672 Köln http://www.daikan.de
Design Post
The trade fair venue in Deutz has a lot to offer, as does the landmarked Dreigelenkbogenhalle of the post office. Built more than 100 years ago, the eight-aisled building was renovated and modified after the plans of 0 III architecten from Amsterdam in 2005. Since the year after that it accommodates the Design Post within outstanding ambience: lots of natural lighting and space for showrooms, but also for seminars, parties or other irregular events. International furnishing brands with focus on furniture, lighting and textiles found themselves spacious areas, but do not expect a sales show or to find price tags: consultation – be it for specialists or consumers – strolling, browsing or simply seeking inspiration is paramount here.
Autor: Petra Engelke
Foto:Constantin Meyer Photography
Deutz-Mülheimer-Str. 22a 50679 Köln http://www.designpostkoeln.de
Hallmackenreuther
A classic in the Belgian quarter. Busy atmosphere (also with laptops) meets lifestyle, food culture and people from the scene. Cool retro chic over two floors inside, seeing and being seen outside, sometimes under parasols, but often also handy for the cigarette in-between. A rather casual charm, despite its stylish and atmospheric design, spreads around the comfortable furniture, like the coffee served until deep into the night. The menu is not the centre point, but is nevertheless attractive with a good mixture for every appetite. The place to be, according to its reputation, which it very much lives up to. From breakfast to weekend parties and from the bar and lounge to the (rentable) club in the cellar, it very much reflects the pulsating city.
Autor: Jens Kobler
Brüsseler Platz 9 50674 Köln http://www. hallmackenreuther.de
Kebabland
In Ehrenfeld, intercultural affection is also ruled by the belly. Creatives, rappers, comedians and 40h-working-week people alike, gather round the wood charcoal grill and enjoy the probably most delicious Turkish specialties that a snack bar in Cologne has to offer. Not far from the train station and with a view through complete glass fronts (of the police station a.o.), in this institution it is always very lively, not merely around the traditional wooden tables, especially at noon. The speed and friendliness of the staff, just as the quality of the food do not, however, have an adverse effect on this. Friendly colours and picturesque plants create a rustic big city enjoyment feel, but you can also sit outside. Preferably with an Adana sandwich, but the sauces and Sucuk are just as popular. A place at which clearly, inner values matter.
Autor: Jens Kobler
Fotos: Bozica Babic
Venloer Str. 385 50823 Köln
Pesch
Size matters. Good for Pesch. But history and quality are still trademarks of the giant at the ring road. Dieter Pesch, who died at Lake Constance in 2013, started out small in the times of Adenauer, then over the decades became a giant brand "furniture from Germany", and always committed himself to culture and trade in Cologne, especially for young designers and daring ideas. It was at one of his tables that Kohl and Gorbachev sealed the deal on the reunification, but also throughout the entire furnishing society, the quality seal of Pesch remains unique. Residential worlds, design history – it is is hard to describe the phenomenon in these terms. Accordingly, the headquarters would be a small district in itself. In Cologne, it has grown into the giant.
Autor: Jens Kobler
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Ring 22 50672 Köln http://www.pesch.com
Ultramarin
The industrial monument Altes Gaswerk has been honoured with more and more design prizes over the past few years, especially thanks to the showrooms of Ultramarin. On 600sqm, everything revolves around bath and private spa; a 160sqm collage room (Loft 1) with sampling service and event location Loft 2, complete the offer. Versatile usage keeps these premises alive on two levels: product presentations, seminars, shoots, concerts and small events can be on the programme, a ready-to-use kitchen is also available. The real thing is of course the high halls full of bathing culture for under your own roof. Not least also the character of this place, as mixture of monument and design, such as is rarely found so harmonious and specific. A place like a warm bath.
Autor: Jens Kobler
Widdersdorfer Str. 190 50825 Köln http://www.ultramarin.de
Utensil
From outside you can recognise it by the sun awning and the black-tiled façade, on the inside by the white wall tiles and the glass ceiling: That's "utensil" in Cologne-Ehrenfeld. In 2009, Anna Lederer opened her shop with design items in this former butcher shop. In the tidy, almost brittle-looking interior, one finds industrial design for private use from the context of the working world of different cultures. The product range includes not only Friesian minks and Erlenmeyer flasks, but also Hamam sauna towels, a Thai food carrier that reminds you of Grandma's Henkelmann, or the orange-coloured trashcans hanging from street lanterns. If you take the time to look more closely, you will also discover a variety of handy classics for the kitchen and office.
The product range, which is humorous and romantic-reminiscent at the same time, has been supplemented by the shop's own line of "Utensil products" for the past four years. Several textile and product designers design and manufacture objects and accessories for the shop, which are also derived from the context of public use and the working world.
The well-running business at Körnerstraße 21 also includes an online shop. Here you will find all offers and further information: www.utensil-shop.de
Autor: Judith Pielsticker
Körnerstraße 21 50823 Köln http://www.utensil-shop.de
Zum Scheuen Reh
By some people only noticed once a year - during the c/o pop festival -, this bar near West station is actually a small sensation for every day. The party scene also carries on beyond the weekends, watching football, readings, concerts, exhibitions, short films and small festivals are being held here all the time. Nevertheless, it is first and foremost a "Bar", if only because of the atmosphere, the clientele and the good and affordable cocktails. But the wines and whiskey varieties of the bar in the arches of the station at the Stadtgarten, are also worth mentioning, as well as the fact that it also functions as a late afternoon café. Very neighbourly and clever: from early morning to noon they also serve passers-by with Coffee To Go. There is always that feeling of a "parlour room" and culture here, the name (at the shy deer) therefore doesn't come out of nowhere, despite all of these activities.
Autor: Jens Kobler
Hans-Böckler-Platz 2 50672 Köln http://www.zum-scheuen-reh.de