Bergman Design House Living Archive Apartment: London 2026

Key Points

• Bespoke Commission: An international family of four, identified as seasoned collectors, commissioned Bergman Design House to construct their second home in London.
• The Living Archive Concept: The 4,000-square-foot listed residence was organized entirely around the logic of a developing collection rather than fleeting interior decoration.
• Architectural Materiality: The studio selected living, organic materials like open-pore travertine to ensure the property beautifully records structural wear, light patterns, and time.
• Artisanal Integration: The apartment acts as a physical gallery, highlighting bespoke work from high-end European designers including Marcin Rusak, Swiss studio Beyond, James Wellesley, and Marco Pacitti.
• Timeless Longevity: Moving away from standard luxury templates, the space is engineered so that its foundational elements will carry more historical and emotional weight in twenty years than they do today.

London (The Londoner News) May 21, 2026 – An international family of four, recognized globally as dedicated art collectors, has unveiled a meticulously reimagined 4,000-square-foot listed London residence designed by the multi-award-winning studio Bergman Design House. Moving decisively away from temporary decorative trends, the vast secondary property has been structurally and texturally organized around the distinct logic of an evolving collection. The expansive flat serves as a fully functioning “living archive,” where every chosen architectural material, spatial boundary, and commissioned asset is intentionally placed to gather historical weight, ensuring the home rewards the passage of time rather than resisting it.

As reported by Caroline Williamson of Design Milk, the design brief delivered by the owners to the design studio was extraordinarily precise in its core ambitions, demanding an environment that was “refined, personal, and enduring.” Every element within the flat was chosen with long-term accumulation in mind. By avoiding standard luxury design palettes, the design team has managed to establish an immersive space where the curated objects and architectural components are projected to mean substantially more to the family in twenty years than they do today.

Why Is the “Living Archive” Conceptual Model Redefining Modern Luxury Interior Architecture?

The design framework utilized for this central London apartment challenges traditional residential asset planning by prioritizing structural permanence over cosmetic decoration. In commercial interior design, spaces are frequently engineered to hide daily use, utilizing sealed materials that reject signs of aging. In sharp contrast, Bergman Design House arranged the historic 4,000-square-foot listed flat as an evolving physical landscape.

According to reports published by Design Milk, the London-based studio—co-founded by Marie Soliman and Albin Berglund—intentionally structured the entire floor plan to serve the needs of a collection rather than the standard requirements of domestic interior decoration. While basic decoration aims to quickly fill an empty volume with temporary, trendy pieces, a collection builds naturally over generations. This conceptual distinction dictated every visual, material, and spatial choice inside the home.

How Do Marie Soliman and Albin Berglund Differentiate “Collection” From “Decoration”?

The difference between a decorated flat and a collected home lies in how the interior materials respond to the lived experiences of its inhabitants. Bergman Design House treats the home as a canvas for the family’s personal history.

“Our approach is forward-thinking and reads like an embellished story with elements that dictate a unique history and space,” explained Marie Soliman, Co-founder and Creative Director of Bergman Design House, in an archival statement documented by Bergman Interiors. “We listen carefully to the brief and then combine it with our research to create a strong, well-thought-through concept. The design is then woven around this core touchpoint, and the story never repeats as each client and project is different.”

As reported by architectural journalists reviewing the studio’s portfolio, Berglund and Soliman consistently move away from rigid luxury design templates. Instead, they combine a clean Scandinavian sensibility with highly dramatic, layered textures. In this specific residence, the objects were chosen for their structural permanence and emotional durability. The layout encourages a lifestyle of observation, mimicking the experience of walking through a private museum where the items on display tell a cohesive, deeply personal story.

What Role Do Open-Pore Materials and Travertine Play in Tracking the Passage of Time?

The functional heart of the design strategy rests on the choices made within the project’s material palette. Rather than choosing materials that require constant restoration to look “new,” the designers looked for surfaces that develop a beautiful patina when exposed to everyday use.

As observed by Caroline Williamson of Design Milk, raw travertine stone was chosen as a foundational element across the home’s primary living zones. Travertine is an organic stone known for its visible, open pores. As the family interacts with these stone surfaces over the years, the open cavities catch daylight differently, exposing the natural variations of the stone. The material’s unique characteristics become much more defined through touch and exposure to light. By building an entire London apartment around this specific material trait, the design studio ensured that the home would grow more visually interesting and character-rich over decades of continuous use.

Which International Designers and Artists Were Commissioned for the Residence?

To support the home’s identity as a living archive, Bergman Design House collaborated with a selective network of contemporary European artists and makers to produce bespoke installations.

As detailed in the Design Milk architectural report, a standout feature within the flat’s entertaining area is a custom bar cabinet created by Polish designer Marcin Rusak. Rusak’s artistic practice involves taking real botanical matter—such as flowers, leaves, and stems—and permanently suspending them in dark resin. This technique preserves real flora within the furniture’s surface, creating an elegant object that holds a snapshot of natural time.

Additionally, the property features a major three-dimensional geometric wall installation designed by the Swiss studio Beyond. This custom piece relies on deep angles and shadow play to capture the eye. Unlike traditional flat artwork, this multi-dimensional construction changes character depending on where the viewer stands and how the light hits it, offering a fresh visual experience with every encounter.

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How Does the Project Connect to London’s Specialist Craft and Joinery Networks?

Beyond importing collectible furniture from continental Europe, the design firm anchored the 4,000-square-foot property within Great Britain’s heritage manufacturing networks. Managing a listed building in London requires a careful balance between preserving historic architecture and inserting modern elements. This balance was achieved through close partnerships with local master craftsmen.

As reported by Design Milk, the extensive custom joinery built throughout the flat was constructed by James Wellesley, while the complex interior stonework was completed by master mason Marco Pacitti. These collaborations connected the flat directly to London’s highly specialized luxury craft networks. The precise woodwork and expertly carved stone elements complement the historic architecture of the building, matching its structural integrity. This dedication to local, high-quality craftsmanship ensures that the home’s custom built-in features are just as durable and artfully made as the freestanding masterpieces on display.

What Design Principles Guide Bergman Design House Across Global Luxury Real Estate?

The completion of this residential archive reflects the broader design philosophy that Marie Soliman and Albin Berglund have developed since founding their firm. With over 25 years of combined international experience, the design duo has built a diverse portfolio stretching across London, St. Petersburg, Qatar, and New York.

According to institutional profiles recorded by the FRAME Awards—where the design studio previously won the prestigious ‘Spa & Health Club of the Year’ title—Bergman Design House is widely recognized for applying five-star-plus hospitality design standards to private, high-end residential estates. Their work often blends rich historical research with unexpected textures, aiming to create spaces that feel emotionally resonant. By treating this London apartment as an archive rather than a showroom, the studio has set a compelling example for the interior architecture industry, proving that true luxury is found in spaces that grow more beautiful, meaningful, and character-rich over time.