Six Quick Ones with Batek Architekten
Founded by architect Patrick Batek, Batek Architekten is a Berlin-based studio working across architecture, interior design and furniture. Known for a clear, restrained approach and a strong respect for existing structures, the studio specialises in the transformation of restaurants, hotels, workplaces and private residences. Precise planning, material sensitivity and a focus on atmosphere define its quietly confident and enduring work.
Dear Patrick, thank you for taking a moment for this conversation. Let’s start at the core: how do you describe your approach to design?
While our studio naturally follows a certain stylistic direction, the foundation of every design is always the client and the place. We believe that good design begins with understanding people on an intuitive level – listening not only to what is said, but also to what is felt.
Our approach is strongly guided by empathy: recognizing both the practical and the emotional needs of our clients. Combined with the specific characteristics of the location, these parameters lead us to develop a highly individual concept that feels authentic, personal and deeply connected to its context.
Your dream house or apartment (or other item) to design? Or maybe you already did?
Honestly, I already had the privilege of designing my own home. It is a garden house, "a Remise“, located in a typical Berlin courtyard. Due to local building regulations and spatial constraints, the design evolved into a compact townhouse spread over several levels. The project became a very personal exploration of how to create quality, atmosphere and functionality within tight parameters.
Looking ahead, there are of course still many projects I dream of. One of them would be to take time away in a remote landscape and transform an existing building into a highly individual hotel. Working closely with the operators, I would love to immerse myself in one place for an extended period of time, focusing entirely on the project and its surroundings.
Your current favorite restaurant (in Berlin or somewhere else in the world)?
There are many, but spontaneously I would mention Restaurant Otto in Berlin. I am drawn to places that avoid grand gestures yet have a clear attitude, both spatially and gastronomically. I appreciate restaurants that do not try to be architecture themselves, but rather allow atmosphere to unfold naturally. When space, food and conversation come together without competing for attention, it often feels more convincing than any carefully staged concept
Your favorite app?
To be honest, I tend to avoid social media and use many platforms more as a quiet observer. Apps like Pinterest allow me to wander from one topic to another, guided by curiosity rather than intention. At the same time, I am very aware that social media, with its strong focus on images, has become essential for our profession. I am grateful for the opportunity it offers to present work to a broad audience and to receive a constant flow of inspiration and input from others.
Your favorite building in Europe?
One building that has stayed with me is La Pagoda in Madrid. Officially known as the Laboratorios Jorba, it earned its nickname due to its resemblance to a Buddhist pagoda. Designed by Miguel Fisac, each floor was rotated 45 degrees relative to the one below, creating a subtle dynamism. Fisac’s mastery of concrete and modern design gave the building a quiet strength and elegance. Although it was demolished in 1999, La Pagoda remains a lasting inspiration for me, a reminder that architecture can be both restrained and expressive, and that the most intriguing works are often those that are discovered rather than displayed.
Your one piece of furniture you take with you on every move?
Almost without noticing, I seem to have developed the habit of collecting stools. They are modest in scale, yet often sit somewhere between furniture and sculpture. My current favorite is the Lacquered Stool by Destroyers Builders. For me, it functions less as a conventional piece of furniture and more as a small sculptural object, one that quietly occupies space and therefore tends to come with me wherever I move.
Thank you, Patrick, for the conversation and for sharing your way of thinking. Your work adds a thoughtful and lasting layer to Berlin.
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