The Kesselhaus is a historic boiler house that is part of a former spinning mill in the city of Offenburg. When our friend, the artist Stefan Strumbel, purchased the property in 2020, it was in a desolate state. Since then, the entire complex has been carefully restored and divided into separate units. The main hall houses Stefan’s impressive studio space and also serves as a project room. There is now a gallery space in the basement and offices on the upper floor. And, lastly, the side wing is now home to the Kantine – a bistro that acts as a meeting point not only for art enthusiasts, but also for the neighbourhood. The restaurant is run by Willi Schöllman and Martin Kammerer and features a varied culinary offering.

We were commissioned to develop an interior concept for the Kantine that embodies the spirit of the location; to create an ambience that encapsulates the playfulness and creative nature of the entire project, but also works as a stage for art. A place that inspires and is inspired by its guests.

Our main source of inspiration for this concept was the “Red Salon”: a tradition of using a room with red walls to display art that dates back to the 18th century and that can be found in many museums and palaces in Europe and around the world. As an atmospheric counterpart to today’s typical white cubes, red surfaces emerge from the floor, onto the walls and up to the ceiling. An angled bench structures the space and works as a display for sculptures. The bold red colour is combined with pointillist fabrics and countertops made from recycled plastics.

The rotating exhibition from Stefan’s own collection that will be displayed in the Kantine includes amazing contemporary artworks from artists such as Jonathan Meese, Lars Eidinger and André Butzer.

Photography: Clemens Poloczek