An exciting interplay of luxurious materials and simple forms is the common thread running through the interior of this penthouse. The design is inspired by the location and characteristics of the approximately 165 m2 living area and 380 m2 terrace area, including an outdoor sauna, whirlpool, and infinity pool. Located on the 9th and 10th floors of a new building, the apartment and its three-sided terrace sail like a yacht above the rooftops of Vienna, and thus also a little aloof.

Many of the custom-made wooden fixtures are perceived as floating – from the dressing room and bedroom with en-suite bathroom, to the boudoir with a luxurious dressing table. Plenty of storage space and many a hidden door have been invisibly built into the wall using laminated walnut. The earthy wood elements form a clear contrast to the floors: shiny bright and large-format porcelain stoneware (with a marble look) in the representation rooms, and high-pile velour in the private rooms. These materials offer subtle nods to the 70s, with backlit mirrors.

The spacious eat-in kitchen also has a ship-like appearance. Behind white high-gloss fronts, its dark walnut interior has been intricately designed, down to the smallest detail.

The central element of the living room is the bioethanol fireplace. Slightly elevated, set in a light marble base, it is backed by a large-format, dark porcelain stoneware wall with a marble look, which, in addition to the flames, also reflects the material aesthetics of classical modernism. The base is also the first step of the metal staircase to the upper floor, whose filigree strut railing takes on a supporting role and makes the structure appear weightless.

Once again, this project was about distilling a coherent whole from the clients' many ideas; focusing their vision and guiding them in their decision-making process.

Technical sheet

Location: Vienna, Austria

Construction completion: 2020 

Area of project: 165 m2 living area and 380 m2 terrace area (1.800 sq.ft./4.100sq.ft. )

Project Team: Harald Hatschenberger, Sophie Kessler

Client: privat

Photographer: Monika Nguyen

About destilat, Vienna & Linz
Destilat was founded in 2008 by Harald Hatschenberger, Thomas Neuber, and Henning Weimer. The company develops architecture, interior design, and furniture design for private and public spaces, for both local and international clients. The trademark of the design studio, headquartered in Vienna and Linz, is a holistic approach with which the designers develop complex concepts.