Individuality and contradictory needs
Seeming opposites come together here: The dynamic buzz of the city exists side by side a desire for immersion in nature and quiet moments away from the hustle and bustle. Conviviality and hospitality are just as important as privacy and the feeling of having a private sanctuary all to oneself. So what was needed is a home that is as versatile and individual as its inhabitants, and one that fulfils the very highest demands.
With these dualities as a starting point, this object-centric flat combines an open and hospitable living-dining area with a slightly elevated, more intimate, private sphere. Throughout the penthouse, deep, tactile surfaces meet the elegance of polished natural stone, while the composure of a calm colour palette encounters bold bursts of colour.
The entrance area leads directly into a spacious, loft-like room. This is where the family welcomes guests and where everyone comes together to cook, eat and celebrate. The adjoining sunroom offers magnificent views of the city and its skyline all year round. A sculptural wall panel between the living and dining areas brings calm into the room. It suggests a boundary, but leaves sufficient space on both sides to maintain the open and spacious overall effect. The striking corpus of a free-standing marble bar at the end of the room extends a gesture of hospitality. The cool natural stone serves as a contrast to the surrounding textile surfaces. Shades of green connect with nature throughout, while the material depth creates a dining area with an impressive and exalted aura.
Flowing transitions
No traditional corridors can be found anywhere in the penthouse. The transitions between the various areas are fluid, but always clearly recognisable thanks to well-considered interim spaces.
A central design element is the green-stained wall panelling that runs throughout the apartment, creating an organic backdrop. With its animated colourfulness and open texture, it brings a freshness and dynamism to the public areas. Its niches offer display space for artworks or light installations, inviting you to set the scene yourself. A home lives from precisely these kinds of inconspicuous places, which demand to be filled with personal objects, with parts of your own identity and history.
With a strong personality – for strong personalities
Three wide steps mark the transition from the public to the private space. The more intimate cinema area is the antithesis of the representative and sociable public living space. Enclosed by curtains, it can be used as a room within a room, and is distinguished by excellent acoustics and a cosy ambience. A folded-down ceiling sail encloses the room towards the sofa suite, thereby creating a feeling of sanctuary.
Moving deeper into the apartment, we find generous retreat spaces for the family and their guests. In the design of the master suite, we again rely on a distinctly object-driven aura, which corresponds with the strong tones of dark blue and anthracite. The second suite, with its soft curves and pale hues, forms a feminine counterpoint. In the children’s room, clear geometries dominate, which are reminiscent of building blocks in their lightness and light-heartedness. Here we create a playfully colourful place that stimulates the imagination and encourages play.
Our penthouse on the Bund is an extraordinary new family home in an equally extraordinary location. It absorbs the energy of the city and translates it into a home that never falls short and never descends into cliché. We position distinctive, characteristic objects in centre stage, creating individual spaces for an art-loving family. Undoubtedly an apartment with a strong personality – designed for strong personalities.