Vitra Home Stories: Dutch couple Vera Köller & Lukas Cober live in an old miner’s house
Lukas Cober and Vera Köller’s home is in a constant state of change – the couple began renovating as soon as they moved into the old miner’s house.
Residents
Vera Köller is a surgeon at a hospital in Eschweiler. Artist and product designer Lukas Cober runs a studio for sculptural furniture in Maastricht. Both are from Aachen and live with their dog in a converted miner’s house near Maastricht.
Vitra’s Standard chairs were designed by Jean Prouvé, while the Colour Frame mirror is by Julie Richoz.
The couple’s interior style brings together old and new, blending minimalism with bold splashes of color.
The house also features several self-designed pieces, including a playful combination of sofa, side table and planter. Isamu Noguchi’s classic Akari lamp delights in a bright orange version.
The birch wood Aalto wall shelves are part of Artek’s collection.
The curvaceous Amoebe armchair was designed by Verner Panton.
Vera: “I’ve always wanted to be close to nature. The house stood on the edge of the forest. It was built of marlstone like the mountain, with vaulted ceilings, old doors and direct access to the mountain, to the caves.”
Lukas: “When we found it, I immediately sensed its potential. Our plan was to start the renovation as soon as we moved in. We put mattresses down in the dusty living room and began working in the next room. That’s how the house took shape organically, step by step.”
Vera: “We poured concrete floors, insulated the roof, tore out walls and hauled blocks of stone. I’m not afraid of hard work – I know how to get things done. As the house became more and more beautiful, we continued to grow and connect more deeply with what truly matters.”
Upstairs, a light yet inviting Slow Chair by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec creates a relaxed retreat. Artek’s orange Kori floor lamp was designed by TAF Studio.
More from the Bouroullec brothers: a pared-down workspace furnished with Ronan Bouroullec’s Courier desk and Erwan Bouroullec’s Mynt chair.
Vera wanted to introduce strong colours into the interior – the yellow ladder, among other details, was her idea. The bright red Panton Chair reflects Verner Panton’s futuristic 1960s aesthetic.
The Mikado chair was designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, while the sculptural Vases Découpage vase is by the Bouroullecs.
Surfboards, sandy-toned surfaces and lush plants add a warm, coastal feel. The Anagram sofa was designed by Panter & Tourron.
Lukas: “Vera brought colour into the house – like the yellow mirror and the yellow staircase. I wasn’t so keen at first, because I wanted everything to be clean and minimalist. But now it’s a mix of both, and I’m really happy with the way it turned out.”
“It’s a mix of both of us, and I’m really happy with the way it turned out.”
Vera: “We’ve also had to adapt. Living here means living with nature – with high humidity and frequent shade. But it also means protection. You feel embraced by the forest and the mountain.”
The old marlstone walls and the forested mountain landscape just beyond the windows hint at the house’s mining past.
Vitra’s Plywood Mobile is part of the collection created by Charles and Ray Eames in the 1940s.
The playful Hang it all coat rack is another Eames design, dating back to the mid-1950s.
Lukas: “For me, ‘making’ means working with my hands. We either design our own furniture or choose pieces for their materials and feel. Craftsmanship is at the heart of everything. It has to have a personal touch and a certain lightness.”
Vera: “For us, furniture has to tell a story or has to be self-made. Furniture that inspires, that is not just functional, brings a house to life.”
Lukas: “The house will never be finished. It is a constantly evolving project. For me, the creative process must always continue. That also applies to this house.”
See also:
Published on 27 Feb, 2026
