Ray Kappe RK8 Letterbox by Original in Berlin, Germany, 2020

Step inside the 5,400-square-foot home of Original in Berlin, a celebrated outpost of mid-century modern furniture in Germany, and in addition to floor-to-ceiling shelving filled with design classics, you’ll encounter three more of the owner’s particular passions — decorative Murano glassware, metalwork by Carl Auböck and ceramics by American artist Stan Bitters.

Original in Berlin founder Lars Triesch can trace his history as a collector to one life-changing moment. In 1998, at age 18, he became the proud owner of a 1956 Chevy Bel Air — a signature piece of American mid-century iconography. Years later, on a visit to California, he found himself charmed by the legacy of the important design movement — and a seed of inspiration was planted.

Flash forward to 2010, the year Triesch broke ground for his own gallery Original in Berlin in Alexanderplatz in Friedrichshain — which was once East Berlin. Stocking rare pieces by Gio Ponti and Charlotte Perriand, as well as American classics like Daniel Wenger’s 1970s Lotus lounge chair, Triesch prides himself on his extensive and diverse inventory. “I usually go with my taste,” he says, explaining his buying strategy, “and that’s always changing.”

Three hundred feet from his gallery, Triesch has opened a second showroom, in which he presents his New Originals collection: authorized reproductions that are handcrafted to order by highly skilled artisans. Currently, it features seating designed by Mira Nakashima and a sofa, credenza, tables and even a letter box by the late Californian architect Ray Kappe, who is best known for the dramatically cantilevered, open-plan Pacific Palisades home he constructed for himself in the mid-’60s. 

With his holistic take on preserving a design era as multifaceted and innovative as mid-century modernism, Lars offers his clients an extensive network of craftsmen, architects and designers alike. These days, having made a name for himself, his comprehensive design expertise is internationally valued, not only by collectors but also by the top auction houses.

Find Original in Berlin furniture on 1stDibs.