MiNiMONO FAMILY #19 - ANNE, EIKE, WOLF AND AMOS AT CASA COCO

AT THE MiNiMONO PROJECT WE KNOW THAT EVERY FAMILY LIVES, AND DREAMS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY. WE SPENT A LOVELY AFTERNOON WITH ANNE, EIKE AND THEIR KIDS AT CASA COCO, THEIR BEAUTIFUL LITTLE CABIN TUCKED AWAY IN THE BRANDENBURG COUNTRYSIDE TALKING ABOUT FAMILY LIFE AND HOW TO BUILD MEMORIES AND CREATE SPACES...

1- CASA COCO FEELS VERY INTENTIONAL BUT ALSO WODERFULY RELAXED. CAN YOU TAKE US BACK TO THE BEGINNING: HOW DID THE IDEA FOR THE HOUSE COME ABOUT AND WHERE THERE ANY NON-NEGOTIABLES WHEN YOU STARTED THIS PROJECT?

WHEN WE FIRST DREAMED UP THE HOUSE, WE IMAGINED MOODS RATHER THAN SPECIFIC FEATURES: DINNER PARTIES, SLEEPOVERS, A FIREPLACE, AND A LIFE LIVED OUTDOORS. THOSE MOODS BECAME OUR NON-NEGOTIABLES. WE WANTED CASA COCO TO BE A GETAWAY, THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF FUNCTIONAL BERLIN CITY LIFE. A PLACE THAT BREAKS THE MOULD OF WHAT'S CONSIDERED SENSIBLE, AND WHAT SENSIBLE SPACES ARE SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE. IT'S ALL STEEL, WOOD AND CONCRETE, YET IT FEELS WARM, DELICATE AND FULL OF PLAY. IT'S A CELEBRATION OF BREAKING THE RULES TO CREATE BEAUTY AND JOY.

2- DESIGNING A HOUSE FOR AND AS A FAMILY IS A LONG-TERM LOVE PROJECT. HOW DID HAVING CHILDREN INFLUENCE THE LAYOUT, MATERIALS, AND DECISIONS YOU MADE ALONG THE WAY?

WE ALWAYS HAD IN MIND THAT THE HOUSE WOULD BE AT ITS HAPPIEST WHEN IT WAS FULL OF PEOPLE, WITH ALL THEIR CHAOS AND JOY. IT WAS CLEAR FROM THE BEGINNING THAT IT NEEDED TO BE A HOUSE CAPABLE OF HOLDING A LIVELY, IMPERFECT FAMILY LIFE.
THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON THE INTERIOR DESIGN, HOWEVER, HAS BEEN OUR DAUGHTER COCO. THE DAY AFTER CONSTRUCTION BEGAN, IN MY EIGHTH MONTH OF PREGNANCY, WE RECEIVED THE DEVASTATING NEWS THAT SHE WOULD BE STILLBORN. A HOUSE THAT HAD BEEN CONCEIVED FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR SUDDENLY BECAME A PLACE WHERE WE NEEDED TO HONOUR HER.
FROM THAT MOMENT ON, EVERY SINGLE DESIGN DECISION WAS MADE IN THE CONTEXT OF COCO. THE BLACK BATHROOM REPRESENTS THE VOID SHE LEFT BEHIND. THE YELLOW ELEMENTS IN THE LIVING ROOM SYMBOLISE HER AS THE SUN, THE STARS, AND THE MOON. WE CHOSE A DINING TABLE SHAPED LIKE A PERFECT CIRCLE, WITH ONE SIDE CUT AWAY.
WE TOLD WOLF THAT HE COULD FIND COCO BY LOOKING FOR THE BRIGHTEST STAR, AND IT IS DEEPLY MOVING TO SEE HOW STRONGLY HE BELIEVES THIS. TO HONOUR THAT IDEA, WE INSTALLED A SMALL LIGHT IN THE CEILING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE HOUSE, CLOSEST TO THE POSITION OF THE NORTH STAR. IT IS NO BIGGER THAN A CHRISTMAS-TREE LED AND REMAINS ON AT ALL TIMES. IT REPRESENTS HIS SISTER.

3- CASA COCO IS A PLACE YOU ESCAPE TO RATHER THAN LIVE IN EVERY DAY. HOW DOES BEING A WEEKEND AND HOLIDAY HOUSE SHAPE THE WAY YOU USE IT: ARE THERE SPACES OR RITUALS THAT ONLY EXIST THERE, AND THINGS YOU ALLOW YOURSELVES TO DO (OR NOT DO) THAT WOULDN’T HAPPEN IN EVERYDAY CITY LIFE?

WE LIVE MUCH CLOSER TOGETHER THERE AS A FAMILY. EVERYTHING REVOLVES AROUND FOOD, RELAXING AND ENJOYING LIFE. 
WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT THE HOUSE, IS ITS OPENNESS TO THE OUTSIDE. THE ENTIRE FAÇADE IS COVERED WITH WINDOWS, AND WE LIVE ALONGSIDE THE SUN THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
ANOTHER BIG DIFFERENCE IS THAT WE LIVE WITH FIRE: INSIDE, WHEN WE HEAT THE HOUSE WITH THE STOVE, AND OUTSIDE, WHEN EVERYONE GATHERS AROUND THE BONFIRE.

4- THE HOUSE HAS A STRONG SENSE OF CALM, BUT ALSO LOTS OF PERSONALITY. WHAT DOES “HOME” MEAN TO YOU NOW, AFTER GOING THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS OF IMAGINING, BUILDING, AND INHABITING THIS PLACE AS A FAMILY?

HOME IS A PLACE WHERE WE CAN RELAX AND FEEL BLESSED ABOUT ALL OF US JUST BEING THERE AND SPENDING TIME TOGETHER. HOME IS A PLACE WHERE OBJECTS AROUND US FUNCTION AS AN EXTENSION OF OUR PERSONALITIES. EVERY ARTWORK AND EVERY PIECE OF FURNITURE HAS A LITTLE STORY AND A REASON TO BE THERE.

5. EVERY FAMILY HAS THAT MEAL. WHAT’S A TYPICAL CASA COCO FAMILY DINNER THAT EVERYONE GATHERS AROUND WHEN YOU’RE THERE?

OUR TYPICAL FAMILY DINNER MEAL THERE WOULD BE LOTS OF DIFFERENT DISHES. THINK YOTAM OTHOLENGHI HAVING A PARTY WITH ANNA JONES AND SPICY MARGARITA AND LOTS OF SPRUDELWASSER AND APFELSCHORLE.
THERE IS MUSIC AND PEOPLE ARE TALKING, WHILE THE DISHWASHER AND THE OVEN ARE WORKING OVERTIME.

6- MINIMONO PIECES ARE MADE TO MOVE, ADAPT, AND BE PART OF DAILY LIFE. HOW DO THE MINIMONOS LIVE AT YOUR HOUSE? WHERE DO THEY TRAVEL, WHAT DO THEY GET USED FOR, AND WHO IN THE FAMILY HAS CLAIMED THEM MOST? 

THE BIG HELPER IS USED EVERY SINGLE DAY. IN THE MORNING, WE TAKE IT TO THE BATHROOM SO OUR SON CAN BRUSH HIS TEETH. DURING THE DAY, IT TRAVELS BETWEEN THE KITCHEN—HELPING US ACCESS THE HIGHEST SHELVES OR ALLOWING OUR SON TO REACH THE STOVE WHEN WE BAKE TOGETHER—AND THE LIVING ROOM, WHERE IT SERVES AS A COFFEE TABLE.
WE RECENTLY ADDED TWO CHAIRS TO OUR COLLECTION, AND THEY ALSO TRAVEL ALL OVER THE HOUSE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING SUCH OPEN, HONEST AND DEEPLY MOVING ANSWERS WITH US, WITH SO MUCH LOVE.