The apartment, designed by the team at design studio WonderWonder, is built for a couple who shared a clear vision of the sanctuary they were looking to create. Before WonderWonder began their work, this apartment was just an open room, a kitchen, a toilet and two bedrooms with opaque divisions throughout, creating a blocky and dark interior.
On entering the apartment, a curved divider creates a separation from the outside world, and the residents can immediately leave behind the hustle and bustle of busy Hong Kong. The curved cabinet not only serves as a physical divider but also as a window that provides a sneak peek into the home.
As you step into the living area, an open and airy space, with plenty of natural light is revealed, a space that is both elegant and functional. The area has been kept deliberately minimalistic, a long, low TV unit seamlessly blends storage, seating, and entertainment into one.
The design for Apartment 7B aims to emphasize the gentleness of a light-filled space with a backdrop of beige paint walls and curved tailor-made oak furniture.
The master bedroom, created by combining two bedrooms (one of which is now a walk-in wardrobe), exudes a sense of grandeur and openness. The raised platform bed and the recessed storage into the flooring add a touch of elegance while providing ample storage space without compromising on aesthetics. A large corner window wraps around the bathroom, allowing natural light to flood in and amplifying the area, creating an illusion of a larger space.
The kitchen is closed off by a door with a glass panel, allowing smells to be contained and yet still allowing guests to have a glimpse of the inner workings of the kitchen as the hosts, who love to entertain, work their magic. The cabinets are light-coloured, blending seamlessly into the ceiling and creating a sense of spaciousness.
The entire apartment is accentuated by dark colours and first greens (the host's favourite colour) that lend a sense of softness, and bulky, unsightly items have been cleverly concealed, for example, the air conditioner is concealed in a curved bulkhead. With the same oak veneer throughout on the custom joinery, the apartment feels like a cohesive and continuous space. Pale grey floor tiles, large in size, play off the light grey concrete and offset the darker colours, further enhancing the feeling of spaciousness.
Through the use of custom joinery, artfully selecting materials that create a sense of space, and removing unnecessary partitions WonderWonder have created a unique home for the owners that sits apart from the many cramped spaces found in this region.
In Hong Kong, space is always at a premium. When we start to do a design, we need to understand the client's needs and their everyday routine, otherwise we will just waste the space.
Images by Wonderwonder Limited & NeverTooSmall