Wabi-Sabi Penthouse

Authors’ Comment

This interior design project is grounded in the aesthetic philosophy of wabi-sabi—a Japanese concept that embraces the beauty of imperfection, transience, and authentic simplicity. In line with these principles, the design of this 250 m² space proposes a coherent and refined interior, articulated through subtle contrasts of textures, materials, and geometries that together shape a deeply sensorial and balanced atmosphere.

Material Contrast and Compositional Balance
The intervention seeks a careful dialogue between natural elements and precisely crafted finishes. Mineral surfaces, rendered in dark grey plaster with a raw, tactile texture reminiscent of traditional clay, are juxtaposed with clean, polished walnut wood volumes, generating a controlled visual tension. Velvet drapes are layered with linen sheers, forming a tactile scenography that filters light with warmth and rhythm.

Black-stained oak elements contrast with rattan details, striking a balance between density and lightness, mass and transparency. Existing structural components—columns and beams—are treated as sculptural design elements, playing a central role in the spatial composition.

Lighting as a Compositional Tool
Structural elements are elevated to spatial landmarks, clad in natural plaster with a vibrant, irregular texture and highlighted by a carefully integrated ambient lighting system. Concealed LED strips in the ceiling visually dematerialize the volumes, creating a floating effect that softens the perceived mass of the architecture.

Nature and Light Integration
A wall finished in stone with a limestone-like appearance introduces a raw, mineral register into the space, gently washed by natural light entering through a skylight above. Shadows cast by the leaves of a Japanese maple animate the surface with subtle movement, creating a poetic interplay between interior and nature.

A Controlled Sensorial Ecosystem
The project functions as a curated interior ecosystem, governed by a deliberate balance between imperfection and precision, rawness and refinement. Every material, proportion, and detail contributes to the creation of a cohesive atmosphere—one that invites introspection, calm, and a renewed appreciation for essential beauty.