While he’s also a professor of Industrial Design, Mark Braun can usually be found at his studio in Atelierhaus Mengerzeilein Alt-Treptow, enjoying the creative freedom that comes with being a designer. Studio Mark Braun’s creations include a wide array of design objects, ranging from sofas and chairs, to glass and terracotta ware, and everything in between. He started out by producing his own designs, but these days the studio works in collaboration with brands and outsources the manufacturing, allowing the team to concentrate on the design. Together with Nomos Glashütte, Studio Mark Braun created the newest addition to the family of Nomos’ timepieces: the sophisticated, award-winning Metro and Metro Neomatik watches. Just looking at the studio’s height-adjustable table trestle for Minimum and Thonet makes you think beyond the object’s functionality towards its symbolism and creative context. Keep an eye on what Studio Mark Braun will churn out in the near future. (Text: Nicolene van der Walt)

Studio Mark Braun, Mengerzeile 1–3, 12435 Berlin-Alt-Treptow; map
Visits by appointment only

Conflictfood is an idea brought to life by architect and conflict manager Gernot Würtenberger and experienced NGO worker Salem El-Mogaddedi. The core concept is based on traditional agricultural products and direct trade relations being key to establishing long-term prospects in crisis-ridden regions, and tackling root causes of migration. With a top priority of transparency, the duo travel to regions in need, meet local farmers, and share their stories on their blog. Their first project launched was saffron from west Afghanistan, grown and harvested by a group of women,a product that can now be bought from Conflictfood’s online shop. All profits go towards an educational center and an orphanage on the outskirts of Kabul. The Conflictfood team has already won the Startup Award at the Next Organic food fair, as well as the deal for their next project: freekeh from Palestine. We’re excited to see where the journey takes them! (Text: Stephanie Johne)

With the new season on our doorstep, I am dreaming of evening retreats on the couch with a good book, a cup of tea, and the most perfect ambience created by the scent of Hakudo filling the room. Designed by Aioro Air, a Berlin-based olfactory studio run by Austrian-Japanese couple Manuel Kuschnig and Shizuko Yoshikuni, the scent is inspired by Japan’s deep forests and smells earthy, velvety-green, and mossy. Combining the finest raw materials extracted from woods, roots, mosses, and leaves, it fuses 11 botanical essences such as hiba wood, vetiver, green oregano, and cypress. You can choose between two ways of allowing the scent to envelop your space: a ceramic and coal diffuser or a woodwick candle that makes a crackling sound as it burns down. The candle is also available in a porcelain edition made in collaboration with Hasami ceramics in the Nagasaki prefecture of Japan. Find them in Berlin at The Corner, Andreas Murkudis, and Konk. (Text: Antonia Harris)