Bronze A' Design Award Winner 2025
Dipl. Ing. (FH) Christian Gaus's Residential Building Interior Design demonstrates a thoughtful engagement with contemporary hospitality spatial design traditions that merge industrial aesthetic transparency with refined material sensibility, creating an environment that honors both functional clarity and atmospheric warmth within residential or boutique commercial contexts, the composition centers upon a substantial bar element whose saturated turquoise ceramic tiling recalls mid-twentieth-century institutional ceramics and swimming pool aesthetics while simultaneously evoking Mediterranean coastal vernacular and contemporary color-confident interior trends, this chromatic boldness tempered by the grounding presence of natural timber countertops whose pronounced grain patterns and warm honey tonality provide tactile richness and organic counterbalance to the geometric precision of tiled surfaces, the designer demonstrates considerable compositional intelligence in balancing cool chromatic dominance with strategic warm material interventions including leather-upholstered seating and exposed cream masonry, the retention and celebration of structural elements including cylindrical columns and ceiling-mounted HVAC ductwork finished in complementary metallic bronze suggests an embrace of honest material expression characteristic of industrial-chic and warehouse conversion design languages that have gained prominence in contemporary residential and hospitality architecture over recent decades, the linear pendant luminaire with its exposed filament lamps housed within minimalist rectangular framing represents a synthesis of utilitarian lighting and decorative statement that has become emblematic of contemporary interior aesthetics valuing both functional clarity and atmospheric character, the back-bar shelving organization displays meticulous attention to hospitality operational requirements while maintaining visual order through symmetrical arrangement and material continuity, polished concrete flooring introduces further industrial material vocabulary while providing neutral tonal grounding that allows chromatic walls and furnishings to command visual attention, the glimpsed threshold at background suggests spatial layering and functional zoning strategies that extend the design narrative beyond the immediate frame, perhaps the most significant achievement lies in the sophisticated chromatic strategy that employs split-complementary color relationships pairing dominant cool cyan-turquoise with warm amber-honey timber accents and tertiary cream masonry notes, creating temperature contrast that enlivens spatial perception while maintaining overall harmonic coherence, the exposed masonry wall fragment introduces historical texture and material authenticity that grounds contemporary interventions within deeper temporal narratives, suggesting either adaptive reuse of existing fabric or deliberate incorporation of reclaimed materials to establish experiential depth and tactile variety, viewers might consider how this design negotiates between residential intimacy and commercial hospitality professionalism, creating an environment that could serve equally well as a sophisticated home entertaining zone or boutique establishment, and how material choices communicate approachable luxury through honest expression rather than ostentatious finish, what sensory experiences might unfold within this space as light shifts throughout daily cycles, how glassware might chime softly against timber surfaces, how conversations might resonate within the volume shaped by hard reflective and soft absorptive surfaces, and how the saturated chromatic envelope might influence mood and social interaction within this carefully orchestrated gathering place.
Perched along Ueberlingen's Seepromenade, the 17th century building at No. 11 has long been a waterfront fixture. Owned by the Oexle family since 1920, it became a restaurant in 1957. A recent renovation balanced preservation with sustainability, incorporating upcycled structural elements and repurposed furnishings. The redesign draws from its setting muted blues and natural materials echo the lake's shifting tones, while expanded window openings maximize natural light and frame uninterrupted water views, reinforcing the seamless connection between architecture and landscape.