The owner was a family with two young boys, two maids and a driver.
Although this apartment was certainly large by Hong Kong standards, space was still not in excess for this family with two active boys and helpers.
Family time was central to the owners’ lives so the ability to use space for a wide range of purposes was important.
Transforming the unit from four to three rooms was a first step to ensure the kids had enough running space. A separate den allowed the children’s friends to visit and play, while the parents could mingle in the adults’ living room. The kitchen was partitioned by a large sliding wall, but opened up directly into the dining area. All these spaces could be connected when the doors open, yielding a very large play area for the kids.
A challenge from the beginning of this project was that the apartment’s low ceiling.
To ensure the internal spaces received as much natural light as possible, we extended the living room into the balcony, delineating the two only with a change in flooring material.