This two-story penthouse apartment embodies
many of our ideas about integration between space, architecture, urban living,
and spirituality into everyday life. Designed for a young couple with a recent
newborn daughter, this residence is centered on a common area on the lower
floor that supports a wide range of activities, from cooking and dining, family
entertainment and music, as well as coming together as a family by its visually
seamless transitions from inside to outside to merge the house into its’
cityscape. The large two-story volume of the living area keeps the second floor
connected containing a semi-private master bedroom, walk-in closet and master
bath, plus a separate private study. The integrity of the home’s materials was also
an important factor in the design—solid woods, concrete, and raw metal were
selected because they stand up to day to day needs of a family’s use yet look
even better with age. Brick wall surfaces are carefully placed for the display
of art and objects, so that these elements are integrated into the
architectural fabric of the space.