The design concept for this duplex penthouse was largely driven by the profession and lifestyle of our clients, the owners of the Inscape Meditation Studio in New York City, which we created for them five years ago. It was always clear that their living space could not be conceived as a conventional apartment, but rather needed to be a “Living-scape” of activities and atmospheres, geared towards play, meditation and relaxed living. The loft is thus designed to deliberately offer a wide range of experiences; from the dark and somber solidity of the dining area, enlivened by a contrasting play of light and shadows, to the brightly colored living area's modular sofa-scape inviting casual playfulness in the center of the loft.
Architecture and furniture here blend into a continuous field, complementing and enhancing each other into integrated “use encounters” rather than functional or programmatic assignments. This duplex with its private outdoor roof deck space and glass skylights also enhances passive solar heating in the Winter, while in the Summer, extensive shading prevents the space from over-heating. Water-based finishes prevent off-gassing and the use of renewable materials reduce the duplex's footprint on the environment.