Penthouse Amsterdam

Former office building in Amsterdam South will be converted into 4 luxury apartments. The assignment is to provide the shell of the 4th floor (penthouse) with the roof terrace with a comfortable interior. It concerns a living space of 225 m2 with a roof terrace of 173 m2 for a married couple with a daughter of 13 years old.   The detached building is equipped on all sides with large windows and spacious balconies on the South and West. To preserve the unobstructed view with the long sightlines over the city, an open floor plan was chosen. The industrial character of the airframe has been left intact to emphasize this ‘loft’ feeling. The position of the sun has largely determined the layout. The private bedrooms and bathrooms are located on the East side (street side), so that the sun has free rein in the living areas. By moving the entrance door of the apartment to the stairwell, it was possible to enter the living space directly from the elevator. The installation shaft, laundry room and stairs are linked to this lift shaft. This “core” is conceived as a huge piece of furniture and as such materialized and detailed, in contrast to the raw and industrial shell. The rotating fireplace hangs in the narrower zone between the living room and kitchen, so that the fire can be seen from all angles. The layout of the roof terrace also follows the sun. In the morning a cup of coffee in the lounge, in the afternoon down on the sun beds and in the evening dining at the table. Providing the terrace partly with artificial grass and large olive trees creates shelter and intimacy.   In the sustainable repurposing project, grateful use was also made of the construction technology of the time in the interior. The building materials and column structure used are atmospheric elements in the design. The entire living space is equipped with underfloor heating in the floating concrete floor. With this installation, the room can also be cooled in the summer.