Like many dedicated shopkeepers, Emmanuel de Bayser lives above his store. But the Corner Berlin is not exactly your average shop—and neither is the home of this connoisseur and collector of mid-Century modern design.
Located in Mitte, Berlin’s bustling central borough which is considered the city’s museum hub as well as a centre for historical architecture, The Corner Berlin was conceived as a platform for the best in international design: fashion, interiors, books, and more. Created 12 years ago by partners Emmanuel de Bayser and Josef Voelk, the store has become one of Berlin’s top shopping destinations, particularly for those looking for exquisite objets that go beyond the ordinary.
Four years ago, de Bayser bought an apartment in the same building where the shop is located. The building itself was built in the early decades of the 20th century, and has survived both the Second World War and the subsequent period when East Berlin was communist territory. It is a grand, imposing structure with elegant period features that include a sweeping staircase and a vintage lift clad in intricate cast-iron that softens the neoclassical lines of the surrounding architecture.
As one steps through de Bayser’s front door, that balance of the linear and architectural with softer, more playful elements continues. Immediately on the left of a compact entrance hallway that features a curvaceous marble table by Italian designer Angelo Mangiarotti is the library-study. Here, built-in shelving designed by de Bayser is packed with over 500 books from his collection, including several monographs on art, along with tomes on film, photography, and design. With windows along one side, the library-study is a room that makes one want to curl up in the Clam chair within and burrow deep into a book.