“When apartment hunting in the past, I had a long list of hopes,” says Clara Goebel, 27, who lives in Zurich, Switzerland. “But after a break up, you’re under a bit of time pressure and can’t be too choosy.” After she and her partner ended their relationship, however, Clara got a bit of great news. “Coincidentally, a lady who lived up the street was looking for something larger, and I needed something smaller,” she says. “We ended up swapping apartments with our landlords’ permission.” Below, she talks about living alone, summer swims, and why you should always stop by an art museum’s gift shop…
DINING/LIVING AREA
Wolfgang Tillmans poster: Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark. Table: Thonet, “belonged to my parents,” similar. Dining chairs: Thonet, similar. Pendant light: Gubi. Tablecloth: similar. Ceramic cups: Ceramore, “gifted by a friend,” similar. Vase: Hübsch, similar. Candle holder: Hübsch, similar.
On adjusting to solo living: My ex and I lived together for most of our eight-year relationship. We also had a kitten, who he ended up keeping, so it was a big transition from living with a little family to living alone. For the first days, my thoughts ranged from ‘Why do I have so much space in this bed?’ to ‘Did he really take the freaking stapler without asking me?’ I never found a single piece of advice that made the breakup any easier, but my mom and my friends made me feel seen. My mom told me I was tough and cooked dinner for me while I napped on the couch. My friends were very patient when I wanted to go over the same thing for the third time, but I also appreciated their honesty when they said, ‘Clara, stop dwelling on it’ the fourth time around.
C’est La Vie poster: Landesmuseum Zurich, Switzerland. Map: “my grandparents.” Curtains: Toast, similar. Wool rug: Ferm Living. Sofa: Bolia, similar. Bookshelf: Muji SUS Shelving, similar. Lamp on floor: “My grandfather’s from the seventies.” Standing lamp next to sofa: Artemide. Mobile: Flensted. Coffee table: similar.
On reading to relax: I work in data science and enjoy looking at regular books after staring at code all day. I have novels, art books, and my grandma’s hand-annotated Bavarian cookbooks. I love visiting Calligramme, a bookstore in Zurich that’s run by a 90-year-old, chain-smoking lady with a cat.”
On glowing light: Winters in Switzerland get dark, so I love a good lamp. Most of mine are from thrift stores or IKEA, but I recently splurged on a Gubi pendant for above my table. It hurt my wallet but felt very grown up.
On channelling your elders: My grandma was a music and literature teacher, and I was inspired by how independent she was. She asked her husband to sleep in a separate bedroom in the 1940s. My granddad just had a bed and desk in his room. Meanwhile, her room was clothed in bright yellow fabric, with white furniture and beautiful patterns. It was just so… her! In this new chapter of my life, I’ve tapped into her energy.
BALCONY
On weekend rituals: My lovely aunt gave me a subscription to a local newspaper for my birthday this year. Every Sunday, I open my mailbox, grab the paper, then spend an hour reading all the articles over coffee.
KITCHEN
Chairs: “my parents, from Thonet,” similar. Mid-century cupboard: “thrifted from Vintagelounge Bern, similar. Crate: Hay. Dish towel: Ferm Living, similar. Painting: Clara. Butter candle: Merci.
On dinners with a twist: I love having people over for dinner and drinks. Since I have two left hands in the kitchen, I’ll usually offer my home, put on a playlist, and let one of my best friends take over the cooking. Last time, my friend made a dish with burrata, roasted grapes, honey, walnuts, and olive oil. It was so good, and I think even I could manage making that next time.
On museum advice: If I see an exhibition I like, I’ll pick up a postcard from the gift shop. I keep them all in a box, which feels kind of like building a personal museum with pieces that spoke to me the most. Exhibition posters make great decor, too — they usually have great graphic design and aren’t too expensive.
On feeling connected: Living alone has brought a whole a new depth to my friendships. My ex used to be my emergency contact, but now it’s my good friend. When I feel a bit lonely living alone, ambient noise helps. I recently dug up an old radio and have been listening to the morning news. Or I listen to my neighbor’s music — the walls are not the thickest and he likes playing loud music, but luckily we have similar taste.
On surprises and delights: I booked a spontaneous trip to Paris because the train tickets were ridiculously cheap after the Olympics. At the Merci concept store, I found this butter-shaped candle that made me smile. On top of the books is a photo of my mom when she was young, working as a nurse.
BATHROOM
Crates: Hay. Towels: OYOY. Small lamp: “my grandmother’s.”
On hosting friends: This summer, three women I met on a university exchange in Singapore came to stay for a week. They’re from Germany, the Netherlands, and Boston. It was a chaotic tight squeeze, and the shower drain clogged like three times from all our hair, but we had the best time catching up.
BEDROOM
Bedding: La Vie, similar. Floral pillow: HK Living. Striped bed skirt, Etsy. Rug: Hay. Bookcase: La Redoute. Chrome candle holder: Stoff Nagel. Letter R: Thrifted, similar. Photograph on the floor by the bed: Amelie Niederbuchner (#8). Poster above bookcase: Henry Moore Foundation. Chair: “my parents,” similar.
On a peripatetic childhood: I was born north of Zurich. When I was six, my family moved to Boston for my dad’s work and stayed for five years. I’ve always loved packing my bags and have since lived in Marseille, Singapore, and London. A few years ago, I returned to Zurich for work. It’s small compared to a city like London, but I feel at home. My parents even named me after the city. My middle name is Regula, Zurich’s patron saint.
On summer swims: Zurich is especially great in the summer. We have many badis, which are bathhouses along the river and lake. After work, lots of people take a dip. The Frauenbadi, which is reserved for women, is one of my favorites. On weekends, I love heading to a café — especially Si o No, Café du Bonheur or Café Plüsch since their street-side seating is perfect for people watching.
On personal preferences: In this apartment, I have very much enjoyed establishing new routines – my routines in my place. My apartment building is surrounded by pine trees, and I purposefully positioned my bed so that I can see one when I wake up. Going on a morning run past the community gardens, taking a hot shower in the evenings with the windows open for a cool breeze, lighting a candle on my bedroom windowsill while I braid my hair before bed — it’s a delight to have these little rituals that no one knows about but me.
Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful space, Clara. We loved taking a peek around.
P.S. More home tours, including a colorful Connecticut family house and a Brooklyn apartment full of DIYs.
(Photos by Clara.)
