Penthouse Pafekuto is a pied-à-terre for a family, a resting place to facilitate their frequent visits to the city. Designed as a lively and a sensual world, it is a multi-level penthouse with 8000 sq.ft of indoor area and 6000 sq.ft of outdoor space spread across three levels, housing 5 bedrooms, 1 office, 2 drawing rooms, 2 entry lobbies, and 5 bathrooms.
Fact File
Name of Project: Penthouse Pafekuto
Location: Ghaziabad
Area: 18,900 sq.ft (3 floors)
Architect Firm: Conarch Architects
Principal Architect: Ar. S.K. Goel
Project Architect: Ar. Nitish Goel
3D visualization: Mukul Bharadwaj
Photography: Vibhor Yadav, Conarch Architects
To create a spacious home, two separate apartments on top of one another were combined into this luxury penthouse and ownership rights were acquired 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.
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. We ripped down the walls, overhauled the space custom designing the penthouse in its entirety with balance, contrast, proportion and colour, while grounding every move in logic and aesthetic precepts
Ar. S.K. Goel
Connecting the two units internally has the major advantage of 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.
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.
High rise living is synonymous with a detached and siloed existence. So, the living spaces were laid out such that they have a visual connection to the 'green' outdoor terraces. Some of the areas open directly to these staggered, double height open spaces located at two levels. This link to the outdoors invokes a feeling of 'front yard', a rarity in high rise setting. Plus, the entire unit is illuminated with natural light, thereby significantly reducing energy loads. The exterior glass letting in the light remains shaded due to deep overhangs of the outdoor terraces. Since there is no direct incident solar radiation on the glass, the heat gain is minimal, resulting in low cooling load requirement.
A well-designed green roof is slowly becoming an ecosystem for bird-habitat regeneration: the roof terrace with its hydroponic 'Living wall', Plumeria & bonsai trees, Ficus Panda trees, flowering plants and water feature can be seen attracting migratory birds.
