High above Frankfurt, this 400 sqm penthouse and its 400 sqm of surrounding terraces were conceived as one continuous living environment — open to the city and its views, yet carefully structured to create intimacy and retreat.

The existing layout did not reflect the generosity of the space or the way the owners wanted to live. We reorganised the floor plan around a sequence of interconnected areas, using sightlines, proportion and architectural elements to establish a natural rhythm between openness and privacy.

At the heart of the living space, a freestanding fireplace acts as both focal point and architectural divider. Conventional solutions were not possible within the technical constraints of the building. As a high-rise subject to stringent fire-safety requirements and an integrated sprinkler system, every intervention had to be carefully coordinated and incorporated into a complex building approval process. A bioethanol fireplace allowed us to preserve the architectural idea without compromising these requirements.

The transformation extended far beyond the visible interior. A new air-conditioning system had to be integrated into the existing building infrastructure while remaining visually subordinate to the architecture. Technical installations, lighting, bespoke elements and construction details were coordinated as part of one comprehensive planning process.

Outside, the approximately 400 sqm of terraces were developed as an extension of the interior architecture. Their implementation presented an entirely different challenge: plants, pots, materials and other large-scale elements could not be transported through the building and had to be lifted to the penthouse by crane. This required detailed logistical planning, coordination with the relevant authorities and the temporary closure of a street in central Frankfurt.

Inside and out, natural materials, bespoke elements and a restrained palette create a sense of calm that deliberately conceals the complexity behind its realisation.

The result is a home that feels effortless — precisely because every architectural, technical and logistical detail has been considered.