The design concept for this duplex penthouse was largely driven by the profession and lifestyle of our clients, the owners of the Meditation Concept Space in New York City, which we created for them five years ago. From the beginning it was clear that their living space could not be conceived as a conventional apartment, but rather as a “Living-scape” of activities and atmospheres, geared towards play, meditation and relaxed living. Each area was to have a specific mode of use, character and affect, inviting one to wander and be inspired by a specific moment or spatial quality, and occupy the space intuitively. The loft is thus designed to deliberately offer a wide range of experiences; from the dark and somber solidity of the dining area, enlivened by a contrasting play of light and shadows, like a forest clearing, to the brightly colored living area modular sofa-scape inviting casual playfulness in the center of the loft. Its in the dining room where we find a custom-designed large dining table seating 12, made from a 3” live edge planed tree trunk, with the intricate holes and crevises and creases of the natural growth tree lending character and detail to its surface, surrounded by stark wood and leather dining chairs and benches designed by the Mexican designer Hector Esrawe. The dining is flanked by a large blacked steel fireplace with a dark grey sheepskin rug in front of it. Circling the hallway one finds a dark stone powder room with silver patterned wallpaper, and continuing to the other side of the lower floor one finds a series of custom design generous bed- and bathrooms. The main bedroom features an amazing extra-large 8’ wide floating platform bed, a place for the whole family to relax in, with asymmetric night tables and recessed lighting. The area rug below is by Jan Kath. Its ensuite bathroom is detailed in marble and has a free standing bath. The kids room features custom designed stacked beds, cabinets and bookcases. The focus of the space however quickly drifts up towards the second floor mezzanine, where a huge skylight floods the room in natural daylight. A new crystalline enclosure of frameless glass planes and a sliding door adds privacy from the living spaces below and creates an ideal environment for the clients meditation sessions. This is where the luscious mezzanine seating area, with Jean Paul Gaultier designed cushions is located, with animal skins and artwork emanating sensuality and texture. A low table contains a gorgeous art piece with a sand surface that constantly re-creates patterns according to algorithms forms the focal point of the space. The sunlit room is flanked on two sides by a generous Ipe-planked outdoor terrace with seating areas and an outdoor shower, as well as a new custom-designed Cor-Ten barbecue/ pantry element, all set against the backdrop of beautiful plantings and the surrounding skyline of TriBeCa. Architecture and furniture here blend into a continuous field, complementing and enhancing each other into integrated “use encounters” rather than functional or programmatic assignments. This Duplex with its private outdoor roof deck space and glass skylights also enhances passive solar heating in winter, while in Summer extensive shading prevents the space from over-heating. Water-based finishes prevent off-gassing and the use of renewable materials reduce the duplex footprint on the environment.