Manchester architect Ian Simpson builds dream penthouse on top of his own skyscraper

How many of us can honestly say we live in our dream home? English Architect Ian Simpson wholeheartedly says he does. The director of Ian Simpson Architects, which has offices in London and Manchester, went above and beyond for his personal oasis - not only designing the interiors of his penthouse apartment, but masterminding the creation of the entire skyscraper.

It was a simple love at first sight. Simpson admits he originally had no intention of living in his now iconic Beetham Tower in Manchester, but when the occasion arose for him to turn the top two floors of his landmark building into his personal abode, he jumped at the opportunity.

His home, which he mainly shares with partner Jo Farrell, is one of his favourite designs to date. "The building differs from [Ian Simpson Architects'] other work," Simpson says. "It's our only tall building in Manchester."

Calling it a tall building, while correct, seems somewhat of an understatement. The tower - named after its developer, the Beetham Organisation in Liverpool, England - is a landmark building in Manchester's skyline, jetting out among the rest of the buildings.

It also holds the honour of being the tallest building outside London. Better yet, until The Shard (in London) opened earlier this year, it was the tallest residential building in England.

Simpson has no qualms about living in the heart of Manchester or in his own castle in the sky. Despite living above the four-star Hilton Hotel, which occupies the first 23 storeys of the building, and right in the hustle and bustle of Manchester's trendy Deansgate area, the celebrated architect has nothing but stellar things to say about his home.

"There are major advantages of living in the tower," he says. "You get the beautiful, distant views and you also get the vibrant activity of the city at your feet. There is a sense of serenity at [such a] high level and yet, I am only 45 seconds away from the city's activities."

The glass-panelled exterior of the skyscraper helps provide breathtaking 360-degree views - and thanks to its height, and no obstructing buildings nearby, the scenery can extend to around 56km out, including glimpses of the Peak District and Winter Hill, and towns and cities near Manchester such as Stockport, Oldham and Liverpool. It's a vantage point like no other for Manchester, and includes several of Simpson's other buildings in Manchester, such as Number One Deansgate, an apartment building built in 2002, and Urbis, also created in 2002 as an exhibition and museum venue which is now the National Football Museum.

The stunning view is something that Simpson, Farrell and their guests are extremely grateful for, during the day and at night. Simpson paid due consideration to the views during his design and decorating process, paying close attention to the way the light falls into the penthouse.