Top-floor apartment

Stairway to heaven

You already know that the top floor apartment is the most desirable, regardless of whether it is served by a lift or not. This level of popularity seems undented by one genuine drawback: because insulation tends to be poor, these homes are hot in the summer and cold in the winter thanks to their characteristic zinc-covered roofs.

That said, they do come with some very nice advantages. At this level, apartments get more natural light. You’re also well above the pollution of the city. Exhaust fumes and traffic noise are much more annoying on the first floor than on the sixth. Being at the top also means you don’t have to put up with heavy-footed neighbours above. That’s a definite benefit for anyone who enjoys peace and quiet or has sensitive hearing. Lastly, depending on the location of your apartment, you could also enjoy stunning views of the city. As you gaze out over the landscape, you’ll soon forget all the flights of stairs you had to climb and the sometimes less than generous ceiling heights that come inevitably with living beneath the roof (this is where a mansard roof comes into its own). But for a corner of blue sky to call your own, it’s all worth it!