This Parisian two-storey penthouse was renovated by Spanish studio 05 AM arquitectura, and the main requirement was to gauge its spatial potential which had until then been overlooked. The architects fulfilled the task successfully and renovated the apartment with a crisp aesthetic of subtle sophistication.
The architects started offering a completely new layout by introducing a new floor plate thereby transferring the main living spaces from the lower to the upper level. The penthouse lost its double height but gained in spaciousness, ambience and architectural flair. The roof, which had been neglected, was painted a soothing white like the rest of the interior and gave the new upper storey living space a sculptural grandeur. Featuring large skylights, the roof also provides ample natural lighting to the open-plan space as do the windows that grace the facades on both sides of the building.
Connecting the new upper storey with the bedrooms on the lower level, a central staircase, also separates the dining and kitchen area from the lounge as well as provides cleverly concealed storage space. Clad in wooden slats, the staircase volume has a refined sculptural presence whose contemporary sensibility is subtly juxtaposed with the classic typology of the pitched roof. Furnished with an eclectic mix of modern and mid-century furniture, objects and artworks, and done with a subdued palette of off-white and timber textures, the penthouse interior is a paradigm of understated refinement while the spacious terrace provides an outdoor haven.