Panorama Penthouse by Bureau Fraai

Bureau Fraai designed a really nice penthouse with great views of both the ocean and the city center. It used to be an office building, but now it's a really nice place to live.

The penthouse at Bureau Fraai has lots of great views, so they decided to use free-standing oak volumes to create an open floor concept instead of traditional layouts with walls blocking the views.

In order for the casco penthouse to have panoramic views of the sea and city, Bureau Fraai was asked to design a space that respected and fully embraced these views. The facades that frame these views consist of window frames from floor to ceiling along the whole width of the penthouse. To maintain and even maximise these views, Bureau Fraai decided to not introduce any obstructing walls. By designing an open floor plan with free-standing oak-wood volumes, the facade was kept clear. This way, the surroundings are always present in every part of the penthouse, making you fully aware of the changing colors of the seasons, the tides, and of the sunrise and sunset that are never the same.

The architects chose a neutral color scheme for the floors, ceilings, and walls of the room. This helps to strengthen the relationship between the room and the surrounding environment.

The different colors in the room represent different things. The colors on the seaside are related to the colors of the sand and the beach. The light oak wood in the room creates a warm and natural feel. The colors in the kitchen and dining room are more muted and represent the modern city skyline.

The wooden bookshelves can be used for private functions such as the bathroom, the closet, the sauna, and the office space. At the same time, these shelves separate the common areas and the hallway from the two bedrooms. If needed, a physical separation can be made by closing fully glazed steel sliding doors that are integrated neatly into the wooden shelves. During the night, rolling blinds and non-glazed doors can visually close-off the rooms from the rest of the apartment.

At the short end of the penthouse, the common areas are all connected together. These include the living room, the media and lounge room, and the dining area and kitchen. The areas are all connected to the outdoor terraces, which are at the core of the penthouse. There's also a rectangular central volume that includes the room for the technical and storage room, the toilet, and the second bathroom. On top of this volume, there's a mezzanine that creates extra storage spaces. And, because it's on top of the central volume, it gives you a great view of the interior and ever-changing colors of the surrounding sky.