Van den Berg, Graz – Austria

Spices refine, aromatize, flavor, preserve, heal, increase digestibility, expel pests, overlay inherent odors and tastes, are everything from spicy to mild, are pure or are mixed, consist of all kinds of plants and plant parts or minerals, are colorful, exotic, create wanderlust, polarize, are pickled and were even currency – in short: the world of spices is hard to beat in terms of richness, opulence and intensity in all possible manifestations, colors and consistencies.
And it is precisely this richness that inspired the design of the new Van den Berg spice company building and is responsible for its current appearance: A lush clash of diverse colors, shapes, materials, surfaces, and plants.
The building itself is a former carpentry shop in the center of Graz and is located in one of the city’s Secret Places. In other words, in one of those desirable-attractive-secret urban situations, which on the one hand is centrally located and in the middle of the city yet turns out to be almost undetectable and thus exudes the charm of a magical place for a small circle of insiders.
For the reconstruction, all valuable parts of the building were first uncovered, missing components were added or renewed, all walls were painted a neutral white, and the existing black bitumen floor was extended into all areas of the building. New building components to be erected were designed in loft-like white locksmith work.
Thus a neutrally held stage design was created, which is to offer all further installations such as furniture, spices, plants, lamps, etc. the greatest possible framework: For example, the special note and characteristics of each individual spice can be experienced via smelling flasks, colorful foils on the glass canopy provide Caribbean light, richly and lushly designed “Hanging Gardens” allow plants to float through the room, and radiantly colorful seating furniture in the tasting area creates an exotic, colorful atmosphere.
All in all, this created a place of intense colors, smells, materials, and associations.