PENTHOUSE-J

At eye level with the sun

In the midst of densely urban Vienna, a successful entrepreneur has created a delightful roof-top oasis. The overall concept was devised by STEININGER to be contrasting in style, elegant, and above all spacious.

By Barbara Jahn

The freshly furnished penthouse in Vienna's 18th district is in an ideal location: with great transport links to the city centre, yet close to the green belt that surrounds the Austrian capital. Providing 250 square metres of living space, the apartment extends across the entire building, which has been newly constructed by a developer. It not only offers spectacular views, but also provides complete privacy to enjoy the three terraces on its sides and on the roof.

The key features stipulated in STEININGER's brief were openness and flow, and the first task was to modify the floor plan in line with those demands. The objective was to allow unhindered movement through the rooms around the central staircase. The drawing board design reveals a division into two areas, for living and sleeping respectively, connected firstly by the entrance hall and secondly by the home office, which features sliding elements on both sides. Great importance was attached to the special ways of opening and closing the sliding elements in order to allow elegant wrapping with floor-to-ceiling wall panelling and doors here and there. The lift up to the apartment is incorporated into the walling design, for example, and the guest toilet is integrated discreetly and almost unnoticed behind the cloakroom.

The open-plan living area is strikingly spacious – an impression further enhanced and expanded by the outdoor space of the front terrace. The fusion of inside and outside has also been deliberately incorporated into the furnishings and their positioning. Martin Steininger comments: “The terrace and the interior meet and merge, creating a sense of the terrace being an extension of the living space. To further emphasise this impression, the terrace furniture is made of similar materials to those used in the interior. Sitting inside looking out, the concept is seen to flow seamlessly.” Especially distinctive design elements are the free-standing kitchen block made of Ceppo di Gre natural stone, together with a bespoke kitchen unit along the wall, and the large twelve-seater burnt-wood table by Stefan Knopp. The lighting installation above that special feature highlights it in every sense. The inviting Living Divani suite provides comfortable seating to enjoy the fire in the rotating fireplace as well as the sunshine streaming through the large windows. Everything that’s not intended to be seen is discreetly tucked away in the back-kitchen adjacent to the actual kitchen.

The sleeping area, comprising a total of three bedrooms, is located on the other side of the apartment. The master bedroom is a particular attention-grabber, featuring as it does a bathtub with view right next to the bed. The adjoining en-suite bathroom has a spacious walk-in shower and generously sized washbasin, as well as a pull-out sauna from Klafs, which can be pushed together like a cupboard when not in use. The other two bedrooms also have their own bathrooms. The wet-rooms echo the contrasts cued in the other rooms. The unifying element throughout all areas is the natural-coloured, long-planked oak floor from Schott & Hansen, which repeatedly encounters the Ceppo di Gre. In contrast, the solitary elements made of burnished black steel, such as the fireplace surround and the kitchen, look almost as if they have been splashed around.

The three terraces are also designed as warmly inviting spaces, albeit in different ways. The prestige south-facing living terrace features the STEININGER ROCK.AIR outdoor kitchen, as well as a table, chairs and lounge furniture by Paola Lenti. A Sunsquare awning offers valuable shade. The terrace on the opposite side is a private space, with loungers and a hanging chair by Paola Lenti providing a comfy refuge. And from it, the tops of the old trees seem close enough to reach out and touch. The roof terrace, stretching the entire length of the building, is literally the project’s crowning glory. Accessible via an internal staircase, it offers the opportunity to relax in the jacuzzi underneath Paola Lenti parasols, or to enjoy meals cooked up in a second ROCK.AIR kitchen while socialising with friends in the slightly recessed lounge area under the awning.