Common Berlin blends bakery and pizzeria within a finely tuned interior

Located in Berlin’s Neukölln district, Common is a hybrid hospitality space that shifts seamlessly from microbakery by day to pizzeria by night.

Designed by Thalea Schmalenberg, the interior supports this dual program through adaptable spatial organisation, natural materials and a restrained tonal palette that allows food, process and community to take centre stage.

GALLERY  

Founded by Maximilian Korrenz Lemke, Common brings together craft baking, slow fermentation and thoughtful design in a single environment. The concept is informed by Lemke’s time in Naples, Copenhagen and Berlin, drawing on traditional baking techniques while responding to the rhythms and expectations of contemporary urban life. Local sourcing and considered processes underpin both the culinary offering and the spatial approach.

During daylight hours, Common operates as a bakery focused on long fermented rye bread made with two types of rye flour and a blend of seven seeds. The menu also includes Scandi influenced cardamom buns alongside coffee roasted locally in Berlin. The open plan layout foregrounds the sensory qualities of baking, with aromas, textures and movement shaping the experience of the space.

As evening arrives, the interior transitions into a pizzeria centred on slow fermented sourdough. Seasonal toppings include combinations such as blood sausage, Käsekrainer and Brussels sprouts, as well as fermented potatoes paired with wild garlic capers. Locally sourced flours and produce anchor the menu to its regional context, reinforcing the project’s emphasis on place and provenance.

Schmalenberg’s interior concept is key to accommodating this daily transformation. The design relies on warm monochrome tones, handcrafted timber elements and a carefully curated lighting scheme to shift the atmosphere from open and energetic to intimate and convivial. Lighting fixtures from Danish and German manufacturers play a central role in this transition, softening the space after dark while maintaining visual cohesion.

Rather than separating programs, the interior allows bakery and pizzeria to coexist within a single adaptable framework. This flexibility reflects broader shifts within hospitality design, where spaces are increasingly expected to perform multiple roles across the day. At Common, architecture and interior design work quietly in service of craft, creating a welcoming setting that supports both production and social exchange.

Images by Clemens Poloczek via Designboom

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