Studio Michael Burman has designed the third location of KEIT in Berlin’s Kreuzberg as a carefully balanced composition of raw materiality, craftsmanship, and contemporary precision. Rooted in the rituals of bread-making yet unmistakably modern in atmosphere, the bakery unfolds through a restrained architectural language where stone, wood, steel, and paper interact with quiet sculptural clarity.
At the center of the space stands a monumental counter constructed from a reclaimed millstone, divided into three fan-shaped sections and arranged in a flowing serpentine formation. Its rugged, geological surface contrasts sharply with the smooth stainless-steel extension integrated into the same curved geometry, while a base in solid Douglas fir introduces warmth and tactile depth. Together, the materials create a dialogue between permanence, utility, and craft.
Throughout the bakery, the contrast between handmade and industrial elements continues to shape the interior. Loaves of bread are presented on minimal stainless-steel shelving systems whose sharp linearity emphasizes the irregular textures and dark crusts of the baked goods themselves. In contrast, the walls are wrapped in layered handmade washi paper, softening the atmosphere through subtle texture and muted light diffusion.
The same material is used in a custom elongated pendant lamp suspended above the counter, casting a warm ambient glow that gives the bakery an almost meditative calmness. Additional Douglas fir furnishings, including benches and shelving units with softened rounded edges, reinforce the project’s tactile sensibility and visual continuity. A deep brown floor grounds the composition, adding weight and cohesion to the otherwise light and minimal palette.
Rather than relying on nostalgia or overt rustic references, Studio Michael Burman approaches the bakery as a contemporary reinterpretation of traditional craftsmanship. The tension between rough natural materials and refined industrial finishes reflects the bakery’s own identity: a practice rooted in slow, artisanal methods while fully embedded within a modern urban context.
More about KEIT on:
Website
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More about Studio Michael Burman on:
Website
Instagram
Photo: (c) Robert Rieger