Ease and Elegance Meet At NC Design + Architecture’s New Studio

Nelson Chow designed his firm NC Design + Architecture’s new studio in Hong Kong to resonate with its relaxed surroundings and elicit privacy, luxury and comfort

For Nelson Chow, the founder of Hong Kong-based multidisciplinary studio NC Design + Architecture, the character of a space should be intimately intertwined with the context it’s born into. When Chow decided to move his studio to Sheung Wan, a charming neighbourhood on the western side of the island, he wanted the space and his team to benefit from the area’s relaxed feel. 

Located on the tenth floor of a modern corner building, the compact studio features a small seating area at the entrance, an open-plan office and a large meeting space that can be separated with a curtain. The 70s-inspired colour palette is earthy and neutral, a mix of beiges, browns and warm greens that conjures a calming yet refined atmosphere.

Floor-to-ceiling windows enwrap the whole space, offering views of the neighbourhood and an abundance of natural light. Travertine-plaster columns conceal window frames, give structure to the layout and work with the lacquered hand-painted Venetian plaster ceiling to give the interiors a crafted feel. ‘The columns give the studio the feeling of a temple or palazzo and erase the structure of the office building,’ Chow says. ‘They’re my favourite element because they really make the space.’

Clean lines and delicate textures characterise the furniture, with warm wood and travertine used throughout. In the meeting area, a monolithic travertine table is paired with a ceiling pendant by Ricardo Lighting and Pierre Jeanneret chairs, their rattan echoing the woven wallpaper set in wooden strips. A timber and travertine display wall holds sculptures and objects from past projects and a collection of works by local artists. 

At the entrance, a travertine coffee table and a dark green velvet sofa form a comfortable seating nook, with a large foot-shaped sculpture (sourced from local antique and furniture store Douguya Hatcharea) and a travertine table lamp adding character to the space. The open office was designed with individual pod-like timber and plaster desks. ‘The desks were designed to provide privacy in a communal, collaborative setting,’ Chow explains. ‘I wanted to give everyone in the team a sense of ownership and luxury.’ 

Completing the space is a workroom and material library that have been tucked away to keep clutter from view. Refined and elegant yet comfortable, the small studio evokes a quiet luxury and sense of ease that resonate with the surroundings and subtly embody the essence of Chow’s approach. 

Text by Nina Milhaud
Images by Common Studio