Karst is a Berlin carpentry studio harmonising modern design and fine craftsmanship. Founded in 2018 by Ricarda Sophie Lorenz and Julien Budnik, the studio combines Julien’s technical expertise as a master carpenter with Ricarda’s incisive creative direction. Together, they work alongside architects and interior designers, and directly with individual clients, to realise custom interiors and original furniture pieces.
Premised on a command of craft and a love for natural materials, Karst’s aesthetic sensibility blends modern and mid-century references across art, architecture and design. Harmonising function and form, the studio’s spaces and objects are characterised by exceptional materials, thoughtful detailing and precise finishes while each expressing a distinct individuality.
Working across residential, hospitality and retail contexts, Karst thrives on long-term partnerships and creative exchange with like-minded designers and makers.
ABOUT JULIEN BUDNIK
Julien Budnik, Berlin-based master carpenter and co-founder and technical director of KARST, guides the studio’s interiors and bespoke joinery with his technical expertise. Drawing on sixteen years of carpentry experience, including four as a certified master, he combines discerning material selection and treatment with rigorous craftsmanship.
Recognised for technical finesse and clarity of design, Julien works from his comprehensive Lichtenberg workshop to execute complex joinery details, rounded edges and custom solutions with
ABOUT RICARDA SOPHIE LORENZ
Ricarda Sophie Lorenz is a Berlin-based interior designer with an intuitive sense for materials, mood and detail. With a background in fashion and creative direction, she brings a unique perspective to each space she defines.
Grounded in refined compositions balancing clarity with warmth, Ricarda’s approach begins with a nuanced reading of the existing architecture and reveals its essence through a subtle layering of natural materials and tactile finishes. Layout, surface and form respond closely to how spaces are inhabited and experienced. Modernist simplicity, Italian refinement and the occasional Art Deco detail find expression through a spatial vocabulary that feels effortless, open and attuned to place.
As co-founder and creative director of KARST, Ricarda works closely with master carpenter Julien Budnik to realise interiors and bespoke joinery defined by precision and character. Their collaboration is grounded in a shared belief in the power of material and form to create meaningful environments.
