Penthouse West
An Evocative Expansion
We converted a neglected 1968 office building into stylish apartments – creating our own dream home in the process by adding a glass-box penthouse to the roof, framing the superb views of Rotterdam’s skyline. While it’s a real feat of contemporary engineering – as the largest load-bearing glass façade in north-western Europe – our glass intervention was inspired by America’s Midcentury Modern architecture: a transatlantic complement to the European Modernist structure it stands on.Penthouse West received recognition by AR House Awards’ longlist and The International Design & Architecture Awards shortlist. Additionally, it was commended by the Rotterdam Architecture Prize.
We didn’t want to lose this place. Taking the initiative for re-use was the only way to live at the top of the building.’
Béton
Brut
Brut
Béton
Brut
Brut
The height of nearly 12 feet béton brut – the raw, concrete ceiling characterizes the fourth floor of the building. Rooms on this level root in the existing building structure, creates integrated experiences of space and are clad in American walnut veneer,an appreciated material with a Modernist heritage. The design respects the original architecture of the building with the choice of materials throughout, as we wanted to incorporate the ones as often used in Rotterdam’s post-war period architecture. Our signature spiral staircase connects the top floor with the newly created penthouse, where modern and refined travertine is used instead of the raw concrete.
Glass and Stone Aerie
Glass and Stone Aerie
The penthouse owes it’s eye-catching appearance to its largest load-bearing and ultra-clear glass façade in north-west Europe. The glass-box on the roof has a slight curving in the glass sheets, giving the facade elegance and not making it too boxy. A generous, shade-providing roof overhang and a defining round window make effortless transitions between inside and outside. The outcome is a spectacular, contemporary construction of a glass-and-stone aerie in Rotterdam of which its design matches the jaw-dropping views of the River Maas and the city skyline.
A Design Matching The View
Materials are important to the mix, as we wanted to incorporate ones used in post-war Rotterdam, such as travertine, mahogany, and green stone.’
A Warm Glow
A Warm Glow
The kitchen is an homage to Rotterdam’s midcentury-modern architecture of the post-war reconstruction era, executed in a sumptuous palette of materials. The counter is made of Italian green serpentino stone, the cabinets of Mahogany wood, and the black backsplash is painted glass. The gold resin cabinets cast a warm, golden light in the kitchen.
Behind the travertine façade, the inside spaces offer warmth, greater privacy and intimacy.’
Interesting and high-contrast spatial experiences
Section
Section
4th Floor
Mezzanine
5th Floor
Site plan
