Dolce Vita at Maximiliansplatz – next125

The best recipes are often those that use a wide variety of ingredients, spices and flavours. Between sweet, sour and umami, a real explosion of flavours is often created. Especially when bold combinations are made – even those that may not seem to go together at first glance. “We see ourselves as an interface between a wide variety of sectors,” says Thilo Walkemeier, running his hand over the long counter made of real terrazzo. We are standing in the centre of a store that looks more like a loft thanks to its open, transparent design and generous window fronts. A black, no-frills kitchen front, indirect lighting and a large wine fridge. At the back, next to the imposing staircase, a library with a reading corner. I feel like I’m visiting friends. Lukas Heller, who runs the showroom on Maximiliansplatz together with Thilo Walkemeier and is the grandson of the founder of the Schüller furniture factory, conjures up a cappuccino for me for the interview that you couldn’t get more perfect in Italy, and adds: “We love the artistic flair and bringing things together.” The fact that we’re in an exhibition space fades into the background. The recipe seems to be working. Because now I want to move in here straight away.

When you enter the showroom on Maximiliansplatz, it really does feel a bit like coming home. The impressive exterior forms a pleasant symbiosis with the interior. The next125 brand, formally inspired by the clear lines of the Bauhaus era, presents itself in a new, innovative light in the context of the Munich concept store. Designed by people, rooted in Bavaria, approachable, personal and timelessly beautiful. I also forget the time a little while I sip my cappuccino and let my gaze wander over Maximiliansplatz. Lush greenery rises up into the white-blue sky – it doesn’t get more Bavarian than this. And yet here in the centre of Munich, there’s a little dolce vita feeling in the air. For example, the small tables and a few chairs in the square in front of the espresso bar next door – between suits and an elegant Munich woman who could easily pass for Italian. The design of the next125 kitchens emphasises the love of the Italian way of life. “Next125 Munich is much more than just a kitchen – it’s a place for a lifestyle that makes you happy all round”: the two managing directors agree.

With a great deal of furnishing and architectural expertise and an eye for detail, a place for all the senses has been created here. On over 400 square metres, private customers, architects, partners and developers can experience the philosophy of contemporary kitchens for themselves, linger, enjoy and be inspired. The main aim is to start a dialogue, says Thilo Walkemeier, adding: “We want people to feel at home here and, above all, to get to know what kitchens can be.” And it can do a lot. Away from the traditional, purely functional place of food preparation towards comprehensive room concepts and sophisticated design solutions, for which not least the Red Dot Design Award was presented. And yet the kitchen has historically always been a place for coming together, meeting and socialising. This is where La Famiglia comes together. With a second espresso in hand, we sit down at a beautiful dining table and start chatting. We talk about functionality and aesthetics and about how the balancing act between tradition and modernity is achieved, what actually constitutes good design and how an everyday object becomes a place that touches all the senses.

Find out more about the two managing directors

LUKAS HELLER
Lukas loves the diversity and inspiration of design, art and culture. The interior architect and business designer (B.A.) has honed his flair for design and trends as well as deepened his knowledge of product strategies during his international stations from Rosenheim to Silicon Valley and Milan to Munich. Over the years, he has built up a global, interdisciplinary network.

THILO WALKEMEIER
Thilo has been pursuing his passion for design, interior design and architecture for over 30 years, during which time he has built up personal friendships and collaborations with international designers and architects. There is hardly anyone who has comparable experience and expertise in the planning and design of kitchens. The specialist for premium kitchens loves to realise unique projects for his customers and always finds a creative solution.

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