Bauwerk Chef Residency

Finding Peace in the Countryside: A Chef’s Journey from City Life to Rural Inspiration with the Bauwerk Chef Residency 

The Bauwerk Chef Residency was born out of the founders wanting to provide chefs with a creative space to work on their craft without the time pressure of a typical kitchen. Removed from the distractions and burden of everyday life, it would allow the chef to focus on reinvention. Discover how the first chef in residence, Guiseppe Gruwez, adapted to his new setting.

For a few years now, the vibrant city of Amsterdam was my home. The canals, the people and their culture, and the constant hum of activity became the backdrop to my life. As a chef I thrived in the fast-paced environment, working long days and long nights, crafting dishes that brought joy to others. But over time, the relentless pace of city life and the demands of the culinary world began to wear on me. A growing restlessness took root, and I found myself yearning for something different—something quieter, slower, and more connected to nature and myself.

That longing led me to an unexpected place: the German countryside. Thanks to an opportunity from Bauwerk Colour founders Bronwyn and Andreas, I was invited to join them in their rural retreat. Nestled deep in the countryside, their home—a schloss (castle in German)—was far removed from the hustle of city restaurants. Apart from a few traditional German pubs and takeaway spots, the area offered little in terms of culinary options. They wanted to introduce more creativity around food in the area, believing the region’s produce had untapped potential. This led to the creation of the Bauwerk Chef Residency.

Chef in Residence

“In the stillness of the German countryside, I rediscovered the joy that had once driven me, and it reshaped how I approach food, creativity, and the balance between work and life.”

Bauwerk Chef in Residence

“For the next chef in residency: come with an open mind, rather than a fixed idea. Try not to focus on yourself too much — rather on the environment you’re in and the community around you. Let that be your inspiration.”

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Bauwerk Chef Residency | Finding Peace in the Countryside:
A Chef’s Journey from City Life to Rural Inspiration

Bauwerk Headquarters

A purpose-built workspace 700 years in development. Peek inside the headquarters of Bauwerk Colour–home to our business, family and a perpetual restoration project.

The European head office of Bauwerk Colour is situated in a fascinating 700 year old manor house in the German countryside. It provides endless inspiration for our extensive limewash paint colour collection, as well as a never-ending renovation project.  Learn more about our approach to historic renovations and why there are some things we just can't paint.

BAUWERK Colour – Headquarters Somewhere South of Berlin

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Workspaces in manufacturing and production are typically not centres of inspiration..they’re all about speed and efficiency, purpose-built with that one thing in mind. But what about all the humans working inside these sterile vacuums? What about the toll on their well-being? It’s hard to believe anyone willingly signs up to have their creativity and inspiration stifled during the large proportion of life we spend at work.  Perhaps it’s that realisation that has led us to choose such an unusual headquarters for Bauwerk Colour. Or maybe we just can’t resist a perpetual restoration project (quite possibly a bit of both). Our personal and professional home serves as our muse—a German castle, our very own ‘Schloss’, nestled two hours south of Berlin amongst tranquil countryside.

The property was purchased by the co-founders of Bauwerk, Bronwyn and Andreas, 15 years ago. They fell in love with the house (and the historic plane tree out front of course) during a visit from Australia where they were living at the time. After the essential updates to make it liveable and a global move, we started working out of the castle seven years ago. The Schloss is now the base of Bauwerk Colour's operations for the Northern Hemisphere–not only where we run the business, but where colours are developed and mixed, and where orders are packed. We’ve been growing, so even in the short time since these photos were taken in 2021 for “The Ateliers of Europe” book by John Whelan and Oskar Proctor, some ‘departments’ have already moved into newly renovated barns on the property. Just another stage in the very long history of this incredible property.

Owner of Bauwerk Colour

"Even though we own a paint company, there are some rooms we won’t touch with a paintbrush. We just can’t bring ourselves to paint over walls with beautiful historic limewash that’s been there for centuries."

Bauwerk Workshop Photography by Oskar Proctor

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A purpose-built workspace 700 years in development. Peek inside the Europe headquarters of Bauwerk Colour lime wash paint and home to our business, family and a perpetual restoration project.

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