Featured in Architect’s Newspaper Interiors, this penthouse was crafted for a couple and their growing family in Hong Kong. The husband, an accomplished athlete, sought urban sophistication, while the wife, a successful businesswoman, desired a vibe expressive of her Southern California roots. The result is a subtle, thoughtful, materially rich home with a number of effective details. 

The transformation began by reimagining the main program—removing an existing bathroom to expand the primary one and create a walk-in closet. The wide, unprogrammed space evolved into a great room, defined by two main walls: a long window/banquette wall and a fireplace/kitchen wall. Together, they form an open-frame geometry, instilling a sense of expansiveness, connection, and direction.

The fireplace wall seamlessly integrates ample storage and a mock fireplace with lounge seating, adding both functionality and a cozy ambiance to the space. On the banquette wall, angled cushions create a serene reading spot, offering views of the adjacent park. The fabric, echoing ocean-colored tones, is mirrored in the glass-topped dining table, catering to both the wife's beach aesthetic and the husband's city vibe.

The use of materials plays a crucial role in demarcation and continuity. Unlike typical Hong Kong apartments with continuous border dropped soffits, a seamless integration of soffit conditions with the walls enhances geometric logic and expands the space. To address the eyesore of the kitchen door, it was shifted and merged into a wood screen wall, wrapping around the entry foyer’s corner to introduce a sense of volume and a new floating bar counter. This wrapping theme reappears in the dining area and hallway, creating visual seamlessness and spaciousness within existing constraints.

Creating internal rhythm and mirroring were focal points of the design. A wall adorned with wooden slats contributes to spatial articulation and rhythm, picked up by the fireplace’s mantel, the kitchen door, and the linear geometry that defines the space. Furnishings from B&B Italia, Bonaldo, Penta Lighting, and Maharam, along with banquette fabric and wall-covering, infuse warmth into the crisp architecture. The transition to private spaces sees a shift from a bright, light calm to a moodier, darker palette, signifying the move from family life to personal experiences.

The transformative design converted a previously dark and segmented space into a cohesive and continuous environment, creating an ideal and distinctive setting for the family of four to flourish.

Photography: Common Studio
Styling: Esther van Wijck