Panorama Penthouse by Bureau Fraai
Welcome to Panorama Penthouse in Amsterdam, Netherlands, a luxurious penthouse apartment designed by Bureau Fraai. Located in a transformed office building, the penthouse boasts 180-degree views from every spot, with the seaside on one side and the city centre on the other.
Bureau Fraai embraced the stunning views by introducing free-standing oak volumes, creating an open floor concept without any obstructing walls. Neutral colours like white and light grey, combined with the warm and natural tones of the oak wood, create a beautiful contrast within the spacious, 300-square-meter interior.
Panorama Penthouse is the perfect place to enjoy the ever-changing colours of the seasons, the tides and the sunrise and sunset, making it an ideal home for those looking for a luxury experience in Amsterdam, the city known for its art and culture.
About Panorama Penthouse
Bureau Fraai designed a luxurious penthouse with panoramic views of both the sea and the city center in a former office building that had been transformed into a high-end residential building. To maintain the 180-degree views from every spot in the penthouse, Bureau Fraai decided to forgo walls and introduce free-standing oak volumes creating an open floor concept.
The nearly 300-square-meter (3229 sq. ft.) penthouse featured a ceiling height of up to 4.75 meters (15.42 ft.). To maximize the stunning views, the architects chose a facade of window frames from floor to ceiling along the whole width of the penthouse.
Embracing the Surroundings
To embrace the beauty of the surroundings, Bureau Fraai chose a neutral basis of white and light grey colors for the floors, ceilings and existing walls. On the seaside, the free-standing volumes were materialized in a light oak wood, relating to the colors of the dunes and beaches and adding a warm, natural touch with its color, texture and refined details. In the kitchen and dining room, the sober grey colors referred to the modern city skyline.
Separating Spaces with Free-Standing Volumes
The free-standing wooden volumes not only accommodated private functions such as the master bathroom, walk-in closet, sauna and office space, but also created a visual separation between the two bedrooms. If needed, a physical separation could be made by closing the fully glazed steel sliding doors integrated into the wooden volumes. During the night, rolling blinds and non-glazed doors could visually close off the rooms from the rest of the apartment.
Central Volume with Mezzanine
At the short end of the penthouse, the common areas were organized as a tripod containing an elevated living room, media & lounge room and dining area and kitchen, all of which connected to the outdoor terraces. At the core, a rectangular central volume with a 4.75-meter (15.42 ft.) ceiling height housed the technical and storage room, toilet and second bathroom. On top of this volume, a mezzanine provided extra storage spaces while offering a look-out to the unique interior and ever-changing colors of the surrounding skies.
Photography by Flare Department
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- by Matt Watts
