This two-story penthouse design, overlooking Lakes Mendota and Monona in Madison, Wisconsin, expanded in scope beyond the exterior walls of the 32-unit condominium building. A proposal by the architect and client to surgically alter the massing of the building envelope to create substantial exterior space was agreed to by the developer, leading to the design of the penthouse: a house in the sky with three independent outdoor living spaces.
Our carved incision is registered on the silhouette of the building in both profile and surface, with the warm cedar liner standing in stark contrast to the building’s masonry and glass exterior.
The finished interior boasts a myriad of features, including a gallery, a two-story library within an operating elevator shaft, and a gourmet kitchen. Continuity between inside and outside is achieved with full-height windows, large sliding doors, and a landscaped platform that becomes a built-in bench.
In addition to accommodating interior living space, the project includes terraces, planting beds, and a Zen garden sculpted and integrated into the plan.
The internal elevator connecting floors was designed to include an open cab with the ability to stop at any point inside the shaft, allowing access to every book within the two-story library tower. We took this creative opportunity to combine these seemingly incompatible programs into a single architectural solution.
The penthouse delivers an experience made up of light and open space. Wide windows paint a mosaic of sunlight on the floors, while large sliding doors integrate the outdoors with the interiors.
