Penthouse Pāfekuto | Conarch Architects

What would one expect, when two apartments in a high rise with a great transformation potential, a collaborative client, and a dedicated team of craftspersons come together? An architectural equivalent of picture perfect, maybe?

Penthouse Pāfekuto is a pied-à-terre for a family, a resting place to facilitate their frequent visits to the city. Designed as a lively and a sensual world, it is a multi level penthouse with 8000 square feet of indoor area and 6000  square feet of outdoor space spread across three levels. The design vision is centered on transforming generic apartment units into a functional, versatile and inspiring living space that honours client specific needs and reflects their lifestyle.  

To create a spacious home, two separate apartments on top of one another were combined into this luxury penthouse and ownership rights were acquired to the high rise tower's terrace above for private use.  One apartment is primarily designed as a master suite, private work space, a guest bedroom and sit out area. The second apartment, internally connected with the first one, includes a spread out indoor & outdoor living area, a kitchen and three bedrooms.

The focal point of the space are the cantilevered floating wood steps with the artistic fall  protection in a Prussian blue backdrop. Created in a simple style that belies its complexity, this protagonist of a staircase is meant to sit lightly to let light and conversations through, emphasizing the interconnected relationship between the levels.

The spatial form in the project has emerged from a host of variables and constraints, such as, the needs of a family with teenage children, structural limitations of the high rise building and limited flexibility in relocating plumbing and electrical services. We ripped down the walls, overhauled the space custom designing the penthouse in its entirety with the melody of balance, contrast, proportion and colour while grounding every move in logic and aesthetic precepts.

To establish a sensorial connection and meet the human necessity to connect with natural systems, both the levels  extend into double height outdoor areas. The upper level leads to the tower's roof level terrace, unfolding into a place for gathering, refuge and play. At a time when birds are becoming increasing scarce in the city, the roof terrace with its hydroponic 'Living wall', trees, flowering plants and water feature can be seen attracting migratory birds. The resulting benefits are two prong- a well-designed green roof is slowly becoming an ecosystem for bird-habitat regeneration and now, the kids in the family can emotionally and physically benefit from spending more time outdoors  interacting with all things natural. 

 Photography credits: Vibhor Yadav