Penthouse Pāfekuto: How Conarch Architects Transformed Two High-Rise Apartments Into A Luxury Penthouse

Project name
Penthouse Pāfekuto
Location
VVIP Addresses, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
Gross Built Area
18,900 Square Foot
Architecture Firm
Conarch Architects
Principal Architect
Ar. S.K. Goel
Project Lead Architect
Ar. Nitish Goel
Project Team
rchitect: Ar. Nitish Goel Project Team: Pushplata Dinkar, Tanya Kumar, Usha Narain, Suman Singh
Website
www.conarch.co
Contact e-mail
info@conarch.co
Photo credits
Vibhor Yadav, Conarch Architects

With design vision centering on transforming generic apartment units into functional and inspiring living spaces, Conarch architects present the Penthouse Pāfekuto – a multilevel luxury penthouse crafted from 2 existing apartments in a high-rise building.

Penthouse Pāfekuto is a getaway house for a family. Designed as a lively and a sensual world by Delhi-based Conarch Architects, the luxury penthouse is described as a family’s resting place to facilitate visits from the city. It features multi-level floors with 8000 square feet of indoor area and 6000 square feet of outdoor space spread across three levels.

Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse.

According to the architects, “the design vision is centered on transforming generic apartment units into a functional, versatile and inspiring living space that honours client specific needs and reflects their lifestyle”.

Creating a spacious luxurious penthouse

To do this, the architects combined two separate apartments on top of one another and acquired the ownership rights to the high-rise tower’s terrace above for private use. One apartment is primarily designed as a master suite, private workspace, a guest bedroom and sit out area. The second apartment, internally connected with the first one, includes a spread out indoor & outdoor living area, a kitchen and three bedrooms.

Connecting the two units internally has a major advantage – passive ventilation. “The staircase opening between the levels acts as a chimney and helps release hot air from the window openings at the upper floor, inducing natural air moment in the apartment. This restricts the need for mechanical air conditioning to extremely hot days.

  • Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse
  • Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse
  • Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse
  • Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse
  • Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse
  • Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse
  • Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse
  • Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse

A cantilevered floating staircase

According to the Architects, “the focal point of the space is the cantilevered floating wood steps with the artistic fall protection in a Prussian blue backdrop. Created in a simple style that belies its complexity, this protagonist of a staircase is meant to sit lightly to let light and conversations through, emphasizing the interconnected relationship between the levels.”

“The spatial form in the project has emerged from a host of variables and constraints, such as the needs of a family with teenage children, structural limitations of the high rise building and limited flexibility in relocating plumbing and electrical services”.

Conarch Architects ripped down the walls and overhauled the space – “custom-designing the luxury penthouse in its entirety, with the melody of balance, contrast, proportion and colour while grounding every move in logic and aesthetic precepts.

Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse.
Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse.
Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse.
Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse.
Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse.
Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse.
Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse.
Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse.
Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse.

Luxury penthouse with a luxurious outdoor experience

Stepping away from the detached and isolated experience of living in a high-rise, the architects created a generous outdoor terrace for the occupants to interact with. Spaces such as the bedrooms, the living areas, and kitchen were designed around it to give a spatial connection to these green outdoor terraces.

“Some of the areas open directly to these staggered, double-height open spaces located at two levels”. Imagine the feeling when you rise from your bed in the morning and the first thing you see is about 50 feet of extended green area, says the Architects. “Research shows that encounters with nature help alleviate mental fatigue by relaxing and restoring the mind. Well now, the occupants can experience these benefits.”

Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse.
Double height outdoor area with visual connection to surrounding spaces.

The architects went to great extent to establish this visual connection – in the circular niche in the office lobby, and in other spaces deeper in the unit. According to them, the link to the outdoors is crucial to the story of the home. It invokes a feeling of ‘front-yard’, which is a rare experience in high-rise living

Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse.

The connection to the outdoors also has the benefit of daylighting. The entire unit is well illuminated with natural light, eliminating the need for artificial lighting throughout the day; significantly reducing energy loads. The deep overhangs of the outdoor terraces keep the exterior glass shaded. As such, there is no direct incident solar radiation on the glass, so the heat gain is minimal. The result is a low cooling load requirement.

Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse.
Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse.
Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse.
Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse.
Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse.

Furthermore, “to establish a sensorial connection and meet the human necessity to connect with natural systems, both the levels extend into double-height outdoor areas. The upper-level of the luxury penthouse leads to the tower’s roof level terrace, unfolding into a place for gathering, refuge and play”.

According to the Architects, the roof terrace with its hydroponic ‘Living wall’, Plumeria & bonsai trees, Ficus trees, flowering plants and water feature can be seen attracting migratory birds. This is coming at a time when birds are becoming increasingly scarce in the city.

Penthouse Pāfekuto: 2 High-rise Apartments refitted to house a luxury penthouse.
Roof terrace with its hydroponic ‘Living wall’, Plumeria & bonsai trees, Ficus trees, flowering plants and water feature.

“The resulting benefits are two prong – a well-designed green roof is slowly becoming an ecosystem for bird-habitat regeneration and now, the kids in the family can emotionally and physically benefit from spending more time outdoors interacting with all things natural.”

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