Munich-based architecture firm Holzrausch has completed a striking two-storey penthouse extension in Frankfurt that dissolves the boundary between interior living and outdoor urban space. The project transforms a rooftop into what the architects call a "roof garden in the middle of the city," with open-plan living areas flowing directly onto a terrace that commands views across Frankfurt's skyline.
The client, Robert Volhard, founded Stylepark, an influential architecture and design platform. He and his wife Patricia lived in the building for 18 years before expanding upward into the new penthouse levels. This upward expansion allowed them to remain in their established neighborhood while gaining significantly more space and an unprecedented connection to the outdoors.
Holzrausch's design prioritizes spatial continuity. Rather than compartmentalizing functions, the architects created fluid open-plan zones that treat the roof terrace as an extension of the living environment. This approach reflects a broader shift in luxury residential design, where outdoor space commands premium value and seamless indoor-outdoor transitions define quality of life in dense urban centers.
The project speaks to Frankfurt's ongoing transformation as a creative hub. The city has invested heavily in architectural innovation and design culture, making it an attractive location for high-profile commissions like this one. Volhard's own stake in the design world through Stylepark adds another layer, positioning this penthouse as both a personal residence and a statement about contemporary living standards.
For a design platform founder to commission Holzrausch signals confidence in the Munich firm's ability to execute sophisticated spatial concepts. The completion demonstrates how architects can maximize limited urban real estate by thinking vertically and treating outdoor amenities as essential rather than supplementary living space.
WHY IT MATTERS: This project illustrates how premium residential design in dense European cities now prioritizes views, outdoor connection, and spatial flow as primary drivers of value and livability.