When Martin Furtner came to Berlin ten years ago, it could not yet have been predicted that the property around the Hackeschen Market in the former eastern part of the reunited city would become the center of gravitation for trendy agencies and design firms. Since then a store with retro and recycled furniture is located in Neue Schönhauser Straße with the fitting name “Schönhauser” (beautiful house).

The Garden Egg is a classical chair used in the former GDR before 1989.
Martin Furtner came from southern Germany to Berlin and since then has become the father of two children. People like himself are his best customers. Since Reunification one million people have left Berlin and exactly that many have moved into Berlin. Many of them have come into money and live in the “in” section of Berlin, Prenzlauer Berg. They like to spend their money on retro furniture and other high-quality merchandise. “In the past few years we have been selling mainly furniture from the 60’s and 70’s. Star designers like Charles Eames and George Nelson are more in demand than ever. People like having some patina.

Schoenhauser offers lamps, chairs, sofas, accessoires... patina guaranteed.
Schönhauser has a small branch in “Prenzelberg” – there we are in the center of the community where the people live who are interested in our furniture,” explains Furtner.“The recycling aspect certainly plays a role for a number of customers”, he states. “There are shapes – straight lines, cubes – that have such a timeless beauty about them and are still being purchased today.” Why buy new furniture? Beside the recycling aspect, there are the aspects of sustainability and efficiency. “If I have a chair or a table that is 30 years old, then I recognize that it is of very good quality, and if I handle it with care, it will survive the next 30 years.”“The sofa on which we are sitting”, says Furtner, “is a piece from the Swiss company de sede and is still being produced today.” Today’s price: 30,000 Euros. The sofa in Furtner’s showroom, however, costs only 8500 Euros.

"De Sede" sofa - mostly bought for the clubs of the Capital.
The sofa is trendy in color – brownish shades that are hip right now. “A few years ago chairs and armchairs were colorful. People soon tired of that.” At that time plastic furniture was in, today the favorite material is wood. The party haute couture of Germany’s capital visit Furtner’s shops regularly – for example DJ Dr. Motte who organized the well-known Love parade. The design branch in Berlin is booming at the moment. “Several years ago many architects who couldn’t find jobs started designing their own furniture and accessories”, explains Furtner. Since the economy is doing better now and people like to invest their money in furniture, these people have a better livelihood and are making a sustainable influence on Berlin. More at www.schoenhauser-design.de