Lobe Lokal Canteen Remodeling in Berlin, Germany

2022

Plural Studio provided the design and coordination for the remodeling of Lobe Lokal. This included a unique, concept-driven book space, as well as interior design and furniture design for the eating space and public outdoor terrace.

Lobe Lokal is a restaurant and community space in Berlin. Their goal is to fight back against the climate crisis by respecting the seasons, shortening supply chains, eliminating food waste and bringing permaculture to the city. They pair their food activism with the book space in the restaurant as well as material choices, artistic protest banners, and engaging events to raise awareness for environmental issues.

https://lobe-lokal.berlin/

Lobe Block

The project is located in the Lobe Block, an innovative building that pushes and pulls on building norms in order to increase flexibility and freedom for inhabitants towards building use and green space. Lobe Block was built by Brandlhuber + Emde, Burlon / Muck Petzet. It was an exciting honor to engage with this unique building, playing with heights, depths and modularity in the development of the design for Lobe Lokal.

Book Space

The book space for Lobe Lokal is located in a small area at the front of the building cut off from the restaurant. The hanging bookshelves form a series of three dynamic gateways. Upon walking through these planes of collected books, visitors encounter a proliferation and extension of the archive through reflections in the façade glazing, as well as a mirror placed on the opposite wall. A mix of greenery inside and outside blurs spatial boundaries and pushes the perceived limits of the exterior deep within the building.

Terrace Furniture Design

Plural Studio made the detailed design and coordination of both the planters and planting. We paid particular attention to finding a local nursery. We also specified plants that would thrive in the terrace’s shady conditions and bring some evergreen attraction during Berlin’s cold winters.

Restaurant Remodeling

Lobe Lokal project information:

Team:
Carpentry: Rebel and Sons, Lowas Works
Metal Work: Vorschub Metalworks
Painting: Adler Naturfarben
Artistic Banners: Soffskill Atelier
Recycled plastic surfaces: Smile Plastics
Plants: Baumschule Horstmann & Stadengortnerei Manig
Re-sale of existing onsite materials: Concular


Plural Studio Services included:
- Design and coordination of custom concept-design book area
- Design and coordination of restaurant furniture including tables, benches, wine rack
- Consultation on interior design: main space colour way for furniture, walls, mirror wall
- Coordination with Smile Plastics (UK) to custom produce table tops and shelving from recycled yogurt pots
- Design and coordination of outdoor area with terrace benches and planters
- Development of plant layout for interior and exterior spaces including sourcing and coordinating plants for terrace planters
- Design and coordination of front of house signage
- Consultation on location branding
- Consultation on political messaging of protest banners and self-awareness toward public perception of ongoing gentrification in Wedding neighbourhood
- Mentoring with creator and maker of interior protest banners (Soffskill Atelier, DE)
- Siting and installation of protest banners
- Coordination of previous restaurant furniture for re-use