Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Boldly Stylish in Hong Kong
Shedding its tenement past, this small apartment has colorful touches and a few design tricks up its sleeve
“Tiny" doesn't have to mean "timid." Project Manager Javis Ma of Urban Design & Build kept this mantra in mind when turning a small Hong Kong residence into a stylish one. The 630-square-foot apartment is located in an old tong lau building in Central Hong Kong; tong lau buildings were originally tenements, usually built in the early to mid-20th century. This building now comprises small units designed for both residential and commercial purposes.
Stripping the unit down to its bones, Ma designed a new layout that makes use of the apartment's long and narrow shape. A kitchen with a workspace serves as the hub, and a living room, bedroom and bathroom complete the space. Smart storage solutions and a few visual tricks make the most out of the apartment's limited square footage.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A single expat businessman
Location: Central Hong Kong
Size: 630 square feet; 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Cost: About $45,000
Stripping the unit down to its bones, Ma designed a new layout that makes use of the apartment's long and narrow shape. A kitchen with a workspace serves as the hub, and a living room, bedroom and bathroom complete the space. Smart storage solutions and a few visual tricks make the most out of the apartment's limited square footage.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A single expat businessman
Location: Central Hong Kong
Size: 630 square feet; 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Cost: About $45,000
Ma designed the apartment with a multipurpose midsection with separate spaces at either end. The kitchen is the heart of the apartment. The custom worktable can be used for prepping meals, eating or working.
With limited access to the outdoors, the apartment had poor air circulation, and one side faces a busy street. A new air conditioning and ventilation system now provides fresh air.
Bar stools: X2 Beat Stool, Homeless Hong Kong
With limited access to the outdoors, the apartment had poor air circulation, and one side faces a busy street. A new air conditioning and ventilation system now provides fresh air.
Bar stools: X2 Beat Stool, Homeless Hong Kong
A built-in closet provides storage without taking up extra space. Chalkboard paint means it can double as a spot for writing shopping lists and recipes.
The simple furniture highlights the apartment's industrial and modern mix of raw concrete and clean white lines. Splashes of natural texture, neon blues, bright yellow and burnt green add visual flavor to the otherwise stark space.
Couch: custom; coffee table: Klubbo, Ikea
Couch: custom; coffee table: Klubbo, Ikea
Rest and play areas are on either side of the kitchen. The layout makes for a seamless transition from one activity to another.
Built-in upper cabinetry lines one full wall of the apartment for plenty of storage. The lack of hardware helps the units blend into the wall.
Rug: Hampen, Ikea
Built-in upper cabinetry lines one full wall of the apartment for plenty of storage. The lack of hardware helps the units blend into the wall.
Rug: Hampen, Ikea
The kitchen presented some unique challenges. Ma wanted to design a space that looked minimalist but that still had all the necessary functions for a multipurpose space and that could fit in the apartment's limited square footage. Expanding the kitchen countertop slightly into the living room created more prep room and makes the space look larger.
The line of the kitchen counter visually extends into the bedroom, separating the custom MDF headboard from a cork bulletin board.
Table lamp: Lane Crawford Hong Kong
Table lamp: Lane Crawford Hong Kong
A thin piece of aluminum separates the two materials, while "collapsing" built-in MDF shelving emphasizes the natural, organic feel in the room.
A bathroom and shower space at the back of the bedroom gets plenty of natural light from a window at the rear of the unit.
Custom stone tilework complements space-efficient storage.
Inspired by stained glass in churches, the bedroom's sliding door diffuses soft light into the space. Each of the yellow panels slides out individually, creating different light patterns in each room depending on the time of day.
This particular building had a very traditional tong-lau layout, with the maximum amount of square footage used and a higher ceiling height than most residential apartments in Hong Kong.