Living Wunderkammer

At Home in the Cabinet of Art and Curiosities

Living lavishly in repurposed buildings

A former cinema in a residential and commercial building in Basel dating from the Art Déco period is transformed into a living space the interior of which is decorated with a collection of historical furnishings and art objects. Contemporary architecture combines with historical building components and antiquities to make up a fascinating Gesamtkunstwerk or synthesis of the arts. While this unique space was being created, a repurposed old forge in Ziefen (BL) was used as a countryside retreat. Both residences are modern cabinets of art and curiosities, marked by the personality of their passionate owner-collector, who thus transforms his everyday life into a continuous journey through time.

The opulently illustrated book takes readers through the rooms in both the city and the country residences. Individual objects and antique textiles are presented and their significance for the history of art and culture outlined. The two buildings, equally remarkable in terms of urban planning, are appraised by two architecture experts.

Contributions by Daniel Burckhardt, Klaus Spechtenhauser, Birgitt Borkopp-Restle, plus a portrait of the collector by Gudrun Sachse (Wer wohnt da?, NZZ Folio)

About the author:
Andreas Häner (* 1966) was fascinated by historical objects and interiors from a very early age. Decades later he fulfilled his dream and transformed a former cinema in Basel into a luxurious refuge. Reports on his unusual lifestyle have been published in numerous media, including the NZZ Folio, the Migros Magazin, BaZ and the SRF programmes Aeschbacher and Wer wohnt wo?