moebelarchiv – a new secondhand furniture store in downtown Karlsruhe
Four architecture students—a passion for design and furniture
At the Karlsruhe Business Park, more specifically on Steinstraße, located near the beautiful Lidellplatz, right next to the popular Café Palaver, a very special place has been open since April 11, 2026: the moebelarchiv, a secondhand showroom for all kinds of furniture.
A Secondhand Cycle for Furniture in Karlsruhe—moebelarchiv Makes It Possible
The four architecture students—Marco Tarrio Torres, Sven Spallek, Nicolò Giovannella, and Maximilian Granjon—have managed to build a second source of income alongside their studies. With moebelarchiv, they have now created a space to bring their very own vision to life: combining architecture and craftsmanship.
The four of us live together, and through some small projects, we've realized that we work well together. Back then, when we were setting up our shared apartment, we noticed how much beautiful furniture gets thrown away, even though it's still in very good condition and perfectly usable.
This quickly led to the idea of developing a circular concept that gives furniture a second life. “We have professional backgrounds in the trades—for example, as precision toolmakers or carpenters. That enables us to refurbish the furniture expertly,” says Nicolò. “Or, when we sell the furniture, we give our customers tips and tricks so they can continue to refurbish the pieces themselves.”
At the beginning of last year, the four students were still working out of garages, but they quickly realized they needed more space to store, refurbish, and then sell furniture and accessories. “Our professors at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) gave us a lot of support, which enabled us to move into this space here in the industrial park in 2026,” Sven explains.
Secondhand furniture from the '70s and '80s in
Karlsruhe
The result is a unique showroom in the heart of downtown that skillfully showcases classic furniture. The goal is to go beyond furniture to develop projects and attract interested customers to interior design concepts, renovation ideas, and their implementation. Since April 2026, moebelarchiv has been selling primarily furniture from the 1970s and 1980s at its store in the Gewerbehof, including:
- Lamps
- Armchair
- Tables
- Chairs
- Accessories
- Cabinets
“Of course, the pieces aren’t always perfect and show signs of wear. That’s why the prices are fair,” explains Nicolò. This makes it possible—especially for young people—to purchase high-quality furniture and consciously choose not to buy ‘fast furniture’ (inexpensive, short-lived furniture)—that’s the idea behind the Möbelarchiv team.
A showroom, a photo studio for rent, and a space for art—the moebelarchiv in Karlsruhe
A bright, light-filled space with an industrial look, divided into two areas by a feature designed and built in-house: on one side, the showroom where the furniture is displayed, and on the other, a photo studio at the back of the store.
“We sell the furniture—which we get, for example, from household clear-outs, bulk trash, or private sources—not only in our store but also through eBay Classifieds,” explains Marco. “Of course, to do that, we need to be able to photograph the pieces professionally.”
In addition, the four students would like to make the photo studio available to other students for a small fee. “We also have plenty of open space and high ceilings, so we want to offer art students a platform as well,” Nicolò reveals.
“Feel free to stop by and meet our team. One of the four of us is almost always here—when the doors are open, just come right in!” says Marco.
"We don't have set opening hours yet because of our studies. But you can follow us on our Instagram account or through eBay Classifieds ," Sven adds.
More information
Contact us
moebelarchiv
Gewerbehof Karlsruhe
Steinstraße 23
76133 Karlsruhe
Email: mail@moebelarchiv.com
Opening hours
Monday-Saturday: 10:00-20:00