Marcel has Mannheim's greenest and possibly most beautiful hallway. There are around 100 plants in his "green hallway" alone.

Marcel has loved nature since he was a little boy. The border with Switzerland is his home. As a child from the village, he helped his grandfather in the garden and brought his passion for greenery with him from there. Today, he lives it out in the middle of the city. His old apartment in the Mannheim squares has become a green oasis. It all started five years ago with a small fig tree. There are now around 150 plants in his urban jungle.

When Marcel visited the 100 m² rental apartment and saw the hallway, he immediately realized: plants have to be in here. The photographer and media designer immediately had the right eye for it. Flooded with light and spacious - the perfect place for an urban jungle. Marcel's jungle consists of countless philodendrons, also known as tree friends. These evergreen plants are actually at home in the tropical rainforests of South America. Or at Marcel's place. Just like ivy plants or lucky feathers.

However, his first roommate was a rubber tree. Just 20 cm tall. Now it stretches halfway across the dining room. Watching the plants grow, caring for them - Marcel is becoming more and more absorbed in this. Especially in times of corona, when his job in the event industry is on hold, his little treasures are a welcome change. Marcel says that pouring brings him down. Especially when he puts on a nice record. His plants like the music too. There is only one room where there are no plants: in the bedroom - they didn't give Marcel a good night's sleep.

However, he wouldn't describe himself as a plant nerd, says Marcel with a little wink. He simply loves the aesthetics, the lush greenery. It all has a calming effect on him. Nevertheless, the name of his favorite plant comes out of the blue: Syngonium Albo Variegata. A hanging plant that is a real eye-catcher in his hallway with its white spotted leaves. And also an absolute trend plant among plantfluencers on social media, as Marcel reports. A cutting costs between 50 and 60 euros. His specimen, which now hangs from the ceiling almost to the floor, makes him really proud. Marcel buys his plants in selected flower stores in the city. He rarely takes cuttings.

Marcel doesn't just like collecting plants. He also has a soft spot for vintage or second-hand furniture and art objects. It's a need for beautiful things, says the 35-year-old. Finding the perfect piece for his home is the thrill for him. To do this, he sometimes travels to Switzerland and rummages through second-hand stores to find the right chairs for his dining table. But he has also bought many beautiful, old things at bargain prices at flea markets or second-hand department stores in his adopted home of Mannheim: a retro kitchen for 80 euros, vintage armchairs for 15 euros or an antique chandelier for three euros. All unique pieces that make his home something special.

Many of the items are also family mementos. His parents' record collection or his grandfather's wall clock. He not only inherited his love of plants from him, but also his love of photography. And, of course, one of his favorite motifs is his green hallway. He also shows it on Instagram and Tiktok: @gruenediele.

A film by Sarah Wilk (editor), Johannes Bock (camera), Jan Parvu (camera / sound) and Marco Büttner (editor).

00:00 Living in the urban jungle
02:11 Kitchen
04:45 Dining room
06:45 Bathroom
08:06 Bedroom
08:27 Living room