Floreasca Penthouse is a 435 sqm duplex residence located in the Floreasca district of Bucharest. The project was developed over a three-year period, starting from the initial planning and internal layout stage, before the spatial organisation of the apartment had been fixed.

The main challenge was the scale of the residence. Spread across two levels, with three bedrooms, three bathrooms and several living and dining areas, the apartment could easily have become a collection of large but disconnected rooms. The aim was therefore to create a clear spatial structure that would connect the different functions and allow the two floors to be experienced as part of the same home.

Most of the apartment has a ceiling height of 2.8 metres, while two large voids open the main living areas vertically to 6.2 metres. These double-height spaces became central to the design strategy. Rather than treating them simply as dramatic volumes, they were used to establish visual connections between the two levels and to organise the circulation around them.

The concept developed around continuity. The lower floor is conceived as a sequence of interconnected living spaces rather than a conventional open-plan room. Seating areas, dining zones and circulation paths are defined through furniture, lighting and material changes, without relying on unnecessary partitions. At the upper level, glass balustrades maintain visual links with the spaces below, while the staircase becomes part of the architectural composition rather than a separate circulation element.

The two voids also act as vertical anchors within the apartment. Suspended lighting compositions occupy these spaces and reinforce their scale, particularly in the main living area, where a cluster of glass spheres extends between the two floors. From different points within the apartment, the same elements can be perceived from changing heights and perspectives, strengthening the relationship between the levels.

The material palette was kept controlled in order to give coherence to the 435 sqm interior. Oak flooring runs through the main spaces and is combined with dark timber, natural stone, glass and metal. Large stone surfaces are used as architectural planes, particularly around the double-height walls, while custom joinery integrates storage, equipment and lighting into the overall composition.

The execution of the project focused on long-term use and material durability rather than short-lived decorative solutions. Furniture and built-in elements were designed and selected with longevity in mind, using durable finishes and materials intended to age well over time. Integrated smart-home systems allow the control of lighting and other functions throughout the apartment, while LED lighting and programmable lighting scenes help reduce unnecessary energy use and allow the atmosphere of the spaces to be adjusted depending on time of day and use.

Lighting was developed together with the interior architecture rather than added as a separate layer. Linear LED systems are integrated into ceilings, furniture and joinery, while decorative fixtures are used selectively in key spaces. This combination provides both functional flexibility and visual continuity throughout the apartment.

The extensive glazed façades also play an important role in the project, bringing natural light deep into the interior and reinforcing the connection between the apartment and the surrounding cityscape. In the double-height areas, this natural light is amplified by the vertical volume and by the use of transparent surfaces.

The private areas follow a quieter approach. The three bedrooms use softer textures, warmer tones and more contained compositions, while the three bathrooms continue the material language of the apartment through stone, timber and reflective surfaces. Each space has its own identity, but the palette and detailing remain consistent throughout the residence.

The result is a duplex defined not only by its size, but by the relationship between its spaces. The project uses height, transparency, material continuity and integrated technology to bring together a complex residential programme into a coherent and connected interior.