The Architecture of Atmosphere: Inside the Berlin Studio of KARST

By Architectural and Design Correspondent
Berlin, Germany

Main Facts: The Intersection of Master Craftsmanship and Spatial Vision

In an era dominated by mass production, flat-pack convenience, and rapid digital rendering, the Berlin-based interior joinery and custom furniture studio KARST stands as a defiant monument to the art of slow, deliberate creation. Operating out of a light-flooded workshop in the industrial district of Lichtenberg and living out their most persuasive calling card in an ever-evolving apartment in Prenzlauer Berg, master carpenter Julien Budnik and interior designer Ricarda Sophie Lorenz are redefining what it means to craft a modern interior.

KARST—a clever portmanteau blending the German concept of carpentry (updated with a definitive, graphic "K") and the English word "studio"—is fundamentally a study in symbiosis. Budnik brings over sixteen years of technical mastery, rooted in the rigorous traditions of fine woodworking, veneering, and structural joinery. Lorenz contributes a sophisticated design acumen forged in the fast-paced world of fashion, bringing an acute, intuitive eye for proportion, color, material tactility, and emotional resonance.

Together, they offer an end-to-end in-house service that bridges a notorious chasm in the contemporary design industry: the disconnect between a conceptual design vision and the realities of its technical execution. By handling every stage of a project—from the initial spatial analysis and hand-selected material sourcing to meticulous workshop fabrication and final on-site installation—KARST achieves an uncommon level of architectural and aesthetic harmony. Their signature rooms are defined by taut lines, finely grained timber, balanced proportions, soft curves, and immaculate finishes. Individually, these elements whisper; collectively, they project an unmistakable acoustic and atmospheric resonance.

Chronology: From Weekend Collaborations to an Ascendant Studio

The journey of KARST is one of organic evolution, born out of shared domestic spaces and a mutual obsession with the built environment.

The Foundational Years

Julien Budnik spent well over a decade honing his craft as a master carpenter, mastering the intricate mechanics of traditional joinery, lumber selection, and complex veneering techniques. Meanwhile, Ricarda Sophie Lorenz cultivated a deep, lifelong fascination with spatial composition. From childhood, she was driven by an intuitive need to curate rooms, arrange objects, and experiment with textures and lighting.

The Incubation Period (Weekend Projects)

While Lorenz was still working full-time in the fashion industry, she and Budnik began collaborating on weekend DIY projects. They designed and built custom furniture and bespoke interior installations for their own Berlin apartment. What began as an organic creative outlet gradually exposed a powerful professional synergy. They realized that Lorenz’s instinctual design language—drawing references from mid-century modernism, Nordic minimalism, and Italian spatial drama—combined effortlessly with Budnik’s technical, hands-on engineering capabilities.

Formalizing the Practice

Recognizing that their combined skill set offered a rare commodity in the Berlin design scene, the couple decided to formalize their partnership, establishing KARST. They moved away from the traditional, utilitarian model of a standard woodshop, opting instead to position themselves as a creative consultancy and craft studio combined.

Collaborative Milestones

As their reputation grew through word of mouth, KARST began collaborating with progressive local architects. A pivotal turning point came when they partnered with Berlin-based architecture practice Studio Mara, led by Mirjam Danke and Olaf Schulz. Tasked with designing the kitchen for Studio Mara’s showroom and workspace in Mitte, KARST deployed warm oak cabinetry featuring curved recessed handles, paired with a commanding polished stone counter. The project served as a public showcase of Budnik’s technical prowess in veneering and door mechanics, solidifying KARST’s status as a studio of choice for high-end architectural collaborations. Today, their Prenzlauer Berg apartment continues to serve as an evolving live-in portfolio, welcoming clients and collaborators into a living gallery of their craft.

Supporting Data & Methodology: The Anatomy of a KARST Project

To understand a KARST interior is to understand the microscopic attention paid to material provenance, fabrication steps, and spatial psychology.

Materiality and Sustainable Sourcing

At the heart of every KARST palette is wood—specifically hardwoods like European oak, cherry, and ash. Budnik favors these species for their rich grain structures and natural character, selecting them to impart warmth and organic depth.

Environmental stewardship is not an afterthought for the studio; it is foundational. Budnik maintains long-standing relationships with FSC-certified, deforestation-free timber suppliers. Rather than ordering bulk raw materials, KARST procures wood strictly on a project-by-project basis. Budnik makes regular excursions to specialized lumberyards, personally inspecting and hand-selecting individual veneer sheets. This rigorous oversight ensures that the timber selected has matured for decades before harvesting, guaranteeing superior provenance, longevity, and sustainability.

The Labor-Intensive Craft of Veneering

One of KARST’s signature technical strengths is its mastery of veneering, frequently executed in dialogue with contrasting materials such as natural stone, marble, metal, and glass. Lorenz frequently points out that consumers often underestimate the staggering amount of labor required for a single veneered element—such as a seamless kitchen door.

The fabrication process requires dozens of exacting steps:

1. Slicing and hand-selecting veneer sheets.
2. Stitching the sheets together to match grain patterns.
3. Gluing the veneer onto core panels under precise pressure.
4. Initial sanding, oiling, and curing.
5. Assembling, disassembling, and executing final fine-tuning finishes.

Spatial Composition and Lighting

Lorenz’s approach to interior styling defies rigid categorization. Rather than adhering strictly to Nordic restraint, Italian theatricality, or mid-century purism, she synthesizes elements from each tradition. Light is treated as a primary building material. Through the strategic placement of sculptural lamps, vintage fixtures, and ambient sources, she continuously shifts the mood of a room—earning affectionate teasing from Budnik, who jokes she should rename the studio Lorenz Leuchten (Lorenz Lights).

Official Responses & Perspectives

In exclusive interviews from their Lichtenberg workshop, the founders shared deep insights into their philosophy, working dynamics, and artistic ethos.

On Redefining the Woodshop:

"It was never our goal to be a traditional woodshop," explains master carpenter Julien Budnik. "We wanted to redefine craft—to connect it with a distinct design sensibility. It’s important for us that clients trust us to think creatively and add our own unique impulses to their projects."

On the Creative Symbiosis:

Reflecting on their partnership, Ricarda Sophie Lorenz notes: "Over time, it evolved into a symbiosis. Carpentry at this level demands carrying the vision from beginning to end, with dedication and patience. I know how exhausting Julien’s work is, so I try to balance that, to be a counterpoint so he can continue with strength. His knowledge helps turn my ideas into reality—knowing what’s possible, what’s realistic, and what takes time. It becomes a shared process. His precision meets my instinct."

On Client Collaboration:

"Every KARST project begins with the space itself—its history, orientation, proportions, and atmosphere," Lorenz states. "Together, we refine and shape those ideas into something unique. It’s perfect when a client knows what kind of wood they like and has a sense of the direction they want to go. We love clients who take joy in details like veneer, a curve, or a door."

On the Atmosphere of the Workshop:

Describing their Lichtenberg headquarters, Lorenz paints a sensory picture: "On entering, you’re hit with the smell of wood and oils, the buzz of machines and tools. When the sun shines, the light floods in beautifully. The atmosphere is very special."

Implications: The Future of Bespoke Design and Urban Craft

The rapid rise of KARST carries significant implications for the contemporary interior design and architecture landscape. As consumers and urban dwellers experience sensory fatigue from standardized, mass-produced interiors, there is a palpable cultural return toward tactile authenticity, localized production, and emotional durability in design.

Bridging the Gap Between Architect and Artisan

By offering a unified service model that eliminates the traditional friction points between architectural blueprints and workshop execution, KARST offers a blueprint for modern craft studios. They prove that high-end craftsmanship does not need to remain stuck in historical pastiche; it can be forward-looking, minimalist, and deeply architectural.

Strategic Expansion and Future Horizons

Buoyed by steady word-of-mouth growth across Berlin, KARST is currently entering a phase of discerning expansion. While residential interiors and bespoke furniture commissions—ranging from dining tables to sculptural bed frames—will remain core to their practice, the studio is setting its sights on new horizons. Plans are underway to expand into commercial spaces, specifically cafés and restaurants where spatial storytelling and theatricality play a more prominent role. Furthermore, the duo is actively looking toward international projects, carrying their distinct Berlin sensibility across borders.

Ultimately, KARST’s trajectory signals a healthy rebellion against the disposable nature of modern consumer culture. As Julien Budnik summarizes:

"Ultimately, our aim is to create spaces that people enjoy being in. Places with their own spirit."

Through uncompromising technical rigor, sustainable material sourcing, and an intuitive mastery of atmosphere, KARST is successfully crafting spaces that possess not only physical structure, but an enduring, living soul.