A Penthouse Above the Pulse: Manhattan Views Meet Quiet Minimalism
Set high above Brooklyn’s waterfront, with the East River glimmering below and Manhattan’s skyline unfolding beyond the glass, the Kent Avenue penthouse offers us perspective. Spanning approximately 350 square meters across the top floor of a converted industrial building, this residence is both expansive and quietly introspective. Rather than dominating its surroundings, it listens. And doing so brings a rare softness to New York’s famously restless energy.
This is a home designed not for spectacle, but for stillness. A refined material palette of oak, brushed metal, stone, and soft textiles defines the space, each element selected not for trend, but for its ability to hold presence without noise. The layout, while open, is layered with subtle spatial boundaries: shelving that breathes light, folding doors that disappear into the walls, and furnishings that are sculptural without being showpieces.
Divided into two distinct wings, one private and one guest, the residence is unified by a deep respect for light, proportion, and restraint. In the main apartment, the living, dining, and kitchen areas form a seamless dialogue, anchored by floor-to-ceiling windows that blur the line between inside and out. A plunge pool on the sunken terrace offers a tactile pause, framed by greenery and uninterrupted views across the water. It’s a moment of calm in a city that rarely grants it.
At the center of the home, a bespoke Vipp kitchen grounds the living space in tactile clarity. Black steel cabinetry and a natural oak core nod to both function and craftsmanship. With a folded metal surface and fronts that tuck away discreetly, it reflects a language of utility, but with a sculptural elegance that feels deliberate and almost architectural.
Just beyond, a perforated steel bookcase acts as both divider and portal, letting light move freely while gently delineating space. Books, personal objects, and small sculptures find quiet residence here, catching shadows that shift with the hours. At night, the in-built Carrara marble fireplace brings warmth to the minimal palette, grounding the living room with texture and tactility.
One of the defining features of the project is the way light becomes material. The custom SR-L-01 wall and ceiling lights create vertical and horizontal lines that echo the architectural rhythm of the original structure. By day, the natural light is absorbed and refracted by the brushed metal and mirrored walls; by night, the space becomes softly illuminated, almost weightless. This calculated stillness sets the tone for the experience within: efficient, but serene; high-tech, yet grounding.
Despite the extensive structural interventions, the layout still acknowledges its ecclesiastical past. Arched thresholds and the preserved form of the spiral staircase serve as subtle cues to the building’s origins. But these elements aren’t treated as relics; they are reinterpreted, integrated, and at times, abstracted.
The private suite unfolds behind a discreet passageway, where oak flooring transitions to soft stone. A wall of glass lines the corridor, drawing the eye outward to the terrace and the layered cityscape beyond. Floor-length curtains filter the light in gauzy veils, softening the sharp architectural lines. Inside the bedroom, a monolithic wooden bedframe rises to the ceiling, its headboard doubling as built-in storage on the reverse side. The gesture is bold, but not theatrical, just the right volume.
The ensuite bath offers a counterpoint: large, cool slabs of grey stone and silver fixtures meet soft, sweeping curtains. Light dances across the surfaces, echoing the filtered shadows of trees outside. Storage is hidden, lines are clean, and the space is allowed to speak quietly.
The guest residence continues the narrative of considered simplicity. Designed with the same attention to tone and flow, it includes a full kitchen, living room, bedroom, bath, and a quiet workspace tucked out of view. A generous deck wraps the edge of the apartment, offering yet another moment to pause, breathe, and watch the skyline unfold. There’s no disruption here, only continuity, a sense of rhythm that moves slowly, even in the city.
Throughout the home, natural materials do most of the talking. Oak, stone, steel, and textile come together with a visual restraint that never feels sparse. Instead, there’s a studied softness, a tactility that resonates at a deeper frequency. The connection to nature is not decorative, but emotional.
As the designer notes, our bodies intuitively recognize calm in the presence of natural elements. The penthouse doesn’t try to recreate the forest, but it offers something close. A sensory stillness. A kind of urban sanctuary.
This is not a penthouse that performs for its skyline. It exists in dialogue with it. Every surface, every silence, every filtered shadow invites a different way of living at altitude, more aware, more intentional, more human.
Editor’s Note
Project: Norm Architects
Location: New York, US
Photography: Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen
This feature showcases the refined work of Norm Architects, the Copenhagen-based studio known for its thoughtful, sensory approach to architecture, interiors, and design. With a philosophy grounded in soft minimalism and human-centered spaces, their work consistently bridges the tactile and the timeless. In this New York penthouse, Norm brings Scandinavian restraint into dialogue with the rawness of an urban skyline, creating a residence that feels at once grounded and elevated.
While this is not a That Cool Living project, we’re proud to highlight such considered design on our platform. Projects like this speak to the values we champion: material honesty, spatial calm, and purposeful living.
Design enthusiasts will spot select pieces throughout the interior, available also online at thatcooliving.com.
If you’re an interior designer, architect, or trade professional, we invite you to apply for a That Cool Living Trade Account to access exclusive benefits, custom sourcing, and preferred pricing for your projects.
