An Urban Cocoon
Warm wood and natural light characterise this Hong Kong bachelor pad by Human w/ Design. We speak with designer Kevin Wong to find out about his approach to creating the tranquil and minimal space
Design Anthology: How did you first meet the client?
Kevin Wong: The client contacted us after seeing our work on our website and social media.
Can you tell us about them and their lifestyle?
He’s a young bachelor who enjoys art, music and a high-quality lifestyle. He was already quite well versed in minimal design and we discovered we had a lot of shared ideas during the design process.
What was his brief to you for the project?
He wanted us to create turn his new apartment into a highly minimal, tranquil and spacious living space.
Can you tell us what is unique about the building and the location?
The building is a recently built low-rise located on the harbourside of Tolo Harbour in Hong Kong’s New Territories. The apartment is 70 square metres big, and its location on the uppermost level means it includes a private rooftop garden.
How did you approach the project — what design references did you try to incorporate into the space?
We tried to avoid using unnecessary forms and design elements, using only simple lines and shapes to express the beauty of minimalism. We worked with the client to design a portal frame for the lounge area that we incorporated to break up the elongated, rectangular layout of the living and dining area. We partially removed the walls of the three original bedrooms and arranged them to become one master bedroom with a walk-in closet and a storeroom. Thanks to the apartment’s high ceilings we were able to incorporate raised platforms in the bedroom and storeroom to avoid the need for much visible storage space.
Please tell us a little about the material choices for the space.
Overall, the materials palette is simple and natural. We selected the imported oak flooring for its interesting raw wood grain, and we tested various veneer finishes for the portal frame to achieve the perfect effect with the flooring. We used the same veneer finish for the furniture in the rest of the apartment to create a consistent look and feel. We selected a light terrazzo for the bathroom to create a sense of harmony with the rest of the home.
Please tell us about some of the custom pieces for the space.
The simple form of the headboard and cantilevered bed platform make a strong statement of comfort and serenity in the master bedroom. The curved end of the headboard forms a small storage nook, which the client requested.
Do you have a favourite element or design detail in the architecture or interiors?
The portal frame in the living area is definitely our favourite element. Sitting right next to the full-height window, the diffused light and warmth of the wood create a perfect moment.
Images / Kevin Wong
