A Lofty Brooklyn Penthouse

Finnish designer…

and architect Alvar Aalto famously said that “form must have a content, and that content must be linked with nature.” This sentiment rings true when admiring this striking new project by Copenhagen-based studio Norm Architects, known as the Kent Avenue penthouse, which overlooks the East River and the Manhattan skyline from the Brooklyn waterfront.

Committed to a holistic and human-centric approach, Norm has been a force of change in architecture, lauded for its award-winning and searingly contemporary aesthetic that encourages long-term wellbeing. In this case, the 3,700+ square foot residence is designed as a serene retreat inspired by the city’s urban energy and nature’s tranquility, effortlessly balancing industrial charm with soft materiality.

Divided into…

two sections—one a private family apartment, the other a fully equipped private residence—the penthouse is surrounded by an expansive wooden decked terrace, encouraging the physical and ephemeral presence of nature to flood in through the floor-to-ceiling windows so that sounds, sights, scents, and breezes become part of the architectural experience. Flowerbeds and a water feature in the form of a sunken swimming pool strengthen this engaging spatial configuration, effectively ‘stretching’ the scale of the floor plan and establishing a safe and cocooning ‘ring of nature’ around the property that is at once peaceful, sensorial, and immersive.

Eager to emphasize the site’s generous open floor plan, the architects introduced skylights to narrow spaces, adding visual interest and a sense of depth and animation to corridors, thanks to the play of light and shadow that changes throughout the day.

Interiors follow…

a “layered design”: long gauzy curtains, mottled grey stone walls, natural untreated oak flooring and millwork, along with simple decorative elements in Carrara marble and blackened steel, strike a sophisticated balance between the strict, non-ornamental look of industrial minimalism and the cozy ambiance of Scandi-inspired quiet luxury: tactile, streamlined, and timelessly luxe.

A bespoke…

kitchen by Danish heritage firm Vipp features components from the brand’s V1 collection, including black cabinetry and a matching central island, all cast from stainless steel with frames and drawers crafted from powder-coated aluminium for durability and lightness. The central island has a polished steel tabletop that highlights the industrial, utilitarian feel of this workspace, softened by a natural oak dining table and matching Karimoku dining chairs.

An extra-large…

Vipp bookcase creates an artistic focal point upon which personal belongings are displayed, once again creating a unique human-centric stamp on this property. The bookcase, which has a perforated steel back, also acts as an unconventional room divider, allowing soft, diffused light to flow from kitchen to living room, supporting the open and fluid look of this apartment.

Norm Architects Interior Design | DPAGES

The living room…

is a place of pure, uncompromising luxury, smothered in smooth and tufted fabrics in a palette of caramel and cream. Decorative curved forms are generously incorporated to harmonize with the stricter box-like structure of the room in the form of sink-in modular sofas and reissues of coveted furniture icons, including a Timberline Floor Lamp by Mads Capran and Hans Wegner’s forever futuristic Flag Halyard Chair.

This aerie…

of a lounge has sliding doors that fully open, which has the effect of visually ‘embedding’ the decorative and architectural components into the scenic terrace environment, thus completely dissolving the boundaries between interior and exterior living. It is this bold blend of qualities that the studio describes as “both intimate and expansive,” allowing core ideals to shine through, namely the importance of creating emotional domains within well-curated and dynamic dwellings. As the architects explain: “Every detail, from the soft color palette to the clean lines, contributes to a sense of calm and sophistication. Living here embraces a natural rhythm, where daylight and the greenery of the rooftop terrace foster a sense of harmony and connection to nature.”