teo jakob Bern – Designer furniture, USM

The story of teo jakob began in 1950 in the old part of Bern. A location that has shaped the company to this day. The showroom at Gerechtigkeitsgasse 23 and 25 spans two baroque buildings and six floors. Across the street, at Gerechtigkeitsgasse 36, the USM store and the Business Client Division complement the offering. teo jakob offers Bern’s largest selection of designer furniture, as well as interior design consulting and interior architecture.

Gerechtigkeitsgasse 23, 25

Covering over 1’300 m², the location showcases furnished living and working environments with furniture, lighting, and textiles from over 200 brands, such as Cassina, Fritz Hansen, Wittmann or Alias. The facade, designed by Niklaus Sprüngli, and the 18th-century panelling bestow an historical essence upon the building. Each floor offers a unique atmosphere, including the former flat of Teo Jakob, where design classics and contemporary creations can be seen in everyday use. Light, textiles, acoustics, and material combinations set the stage for interior design consulting and designer furniture in Bern.

Gerechtigkeitsgasse 36

The location at Gerechtigkeitsgasse 36 complements the main showroom with a focus on modular systems and project-based design. Part of teo jakob since 1990, the building houses the only official USM showroom in Switzerland on the ground floor. The basement contains the area for business clients, featuring realistically furnished zones where furniture for the hospitality sector, new workspaces, and room-in-room systems from Mute Modular can be tested directly, for example.

Distinctive Features

Showroom

In the connected buildings at Gerechtigkeitsgasse 23 and 25, authentically staged living environments with modern classics and contemporary creations from leading design brands are presented across six floors, from the basement to the roof terrace. Here, furniture, lighting, carpets and textiles can be experienced interacting with one another. The ideal place to discover and try out designer furniture in Bern.

Showroom teo jakob Bern, Leuchten und Wohnmöbel

Project space for business clients

In the basement, furnishing solutions are created for companies, public offices, restaurants, and institutions, from needs analysis through realisation. Key elements are modular systems such as Mute Modular for retreat areas, meeting zones, or lounges. The offering is complemented by furniture and interior solutions from brands such as Arper, Vitra or HAY. Consultation, material sampling, and planning are carried out directly on site and are tailored to functional, durable, and architecturally coordinated use.

Showroom teo jakob Bern, Aussenansicht von Mute Modular Raum-in-Raum-Pod

Lighting Lab

In the historic vaulted cellar at Gerechtigkeitsgasse 25, the lighting lab showcases over 50 luminaries for residential spaces and workspaces. Colour temperature, Kelvin values, dimming, and beam angle can be experienced first-hand in the space. Pendant, floor and wall lamps from manufacturers such as Belux, Baltensweiler or Foscarini are on display. The combination of technical consulting and atmospheric staging supports projects ranging from individual applications to comprehensive lighting design.

Showroom-Gang im Leuchtenkeller Bern mit bestückter Decke und Wänden voller Leuchten—Kugel-, Spot- und Wandleuchten—sowie Tischlampen.

Materials Library

The materials library, with over 3,500 fabric, wood, stone, carpet and acoustic samples, is located on the ground floor of Gerechtigkeitsgasse 23. Sustainable materials and options for circular construction are also integrated. The library supports private residential projects as well as interior design for businesses. Custom-made curtains are designed and sampled here. Numerous classic furniture designs can be customised; special dimensions, colour preferences and functional adjustments are implemented directly by the team in Bern.

Showroom teo jakob Bern, Materialbibliothek mit Mustern

USM PlayLab

On the ground floor, the USM PlayLab demonstrates how USM furniture can be planned in a modular way for residential, office, and reception spaces. Colours, configurations, and functions can be tried out. The world’s first specialised USM showroom was established in Bern in 1972. Today’s PlayLab continues this tradition. With ever-changing displays and expert advice, Gerechtigkeitsgasse 36 is the premier location to buy, configure or refurbish USM furniture in Bern.

Creative Studio

The creative studio at Gerechtigkeitsgasse 23 is a workspace for design and exchange. Here, customers, architects and consultants develop solutions that make colours, tactile qualities and proportions immediately perceptible. Physical sampling complements digital models and forms the basis for precise interior design advice in Bern. From individual pieces of furniture to comprehensive room concepts.

Chair cellar

In the vaulted cellar at Gerechtigkeitsgasse 25, over 150 seating options, classics and contemporary designs are on display. The Stuhlkeller allows for a direct comparison of construction, ergonomics and design. The diversity shows how differently seating solutions respond to space, use, and material, providing a foundation for making informed furniture choices in private and commercial projects in Bern.

teo jakob Bern Stuhlkeller: Stufenförmige, türkisfarbene Podeste mit vielen unterschiedlichen Designstühlen in verschiedenen Formen, Materialien und Farben unter einer weiss verputzten Gewölbedecke. Rechts verläuft ein schmaler Gang, am Ende führt eine Treppe nach oben.

Mute Room-In-Room Systems

With Mute, teo jakob develops acoustic solutions for open working environments. The Mute Modular system allows room-in-room pods, panels, and partitions without structural modifications, which can be moved or expanded without tools. Lighting, ventilation and electricity are integrated upon request. In combination with carpets, curtains and wall absorbers, retreats are created for focused work, confidential conversations or hybrid meetings.

Cassina Appartemento

On the first floor at Gerechtigkeitsgasse 23, the Cassina Appartemento displays furniture by Le Corbusier, Perriand, Bellini, Lissoni and other designers. Since 1959, teo jakob has brought international brands such as Cassina and Flos to Switzerland. The Bern showroom brings together craftsmanship, design history, and contemporary creations, allowing visitors to experience the evolution of Italian design in an authentic residential setting.

Art

Shortly before his death, Teo Jakob established a foundation to preserve his collection. Works by Alfred Hofkunst, Dieter Roth and Urs Lüthi are still part of the house to this day. The mural entitled «Beleuchtung» (Lighting) (1971) by Hofkunst extends over four floors. Through changing presentations, new connections between art, space and design become visible, forming a contextual framework for consultation and design in Bern.

Occhio light space

On the first floor at Gerechtigkeitsgasse 23, the «Occhio light space » presents lighting in a real furnished flat, from the entrance to the bedroom. Different scenes demonstrate how programmed lighting moods differ for living, working, relaxing, or illuminating artwork. Brightness and light colour can be controlled via gesture or digitally, so that, for example, warm light in the living room can be experienced alongside precise illumination of artwork. The Light Space complements the Occhio Galleries in Geneva and Zurich and offers specialised lighting consultancy in Bern.

teo jakob Loft

Gesamtblick durchs Loft mit markanten Dachbindern: Podest mit Daybed, runde Teppiche, lange Sofabank, hohe Lichtstele und Regal.

Tageslichtdurchflutetes Dachloft mit sichtbaren Holzbalken: Podest mit Daybed und Kissen, zwei kugelförmige Tischleuchten, vorne drei schwarze Beistelltische.

Lounge im Loft: türkisfarbene Sofalandschaft, Glas-Couchtisch mit Holzgestell, zwei opale Kugelleuchten und skulpturale Wandreliefs.

Detail im Loft: petrolfarbene modulare Sofa-Landschaft mit integriertem Ablagetisch, weisser Kugel-Tischleuchte und reliefartigen Wandpaneelen auf hellem Parkett.

Blick über verschneite Dächer der Berner Altstadt mit dem Turm des Berner Münsters im Hintergrund.

The top floor at Gerechtigkeitsgasse 25 contains the teo jakob Loft with a terrace overlooking the rooftops of the old town. The space serves as a venue for product presentations, design discussions, and internal workshops. At the same time, the loft offers large-scale pieces and retreat spaces for design processes. The combination of view, architecture, and furniture creates a precise environment for design decisions.