Maximising Minimal Space
In designing this Hong Kong apartment, local studio JAAK reconfigured, reorganised and returned back to basics
Chau Wing Chung and Calvin Cheng’s design studio JAAK takes its name from the Cantonese pronunciation of ‘home’, reflecting the duo’s ambition to create unique and comfortable modern homes by tailoring spaces to individual needs. Their latest creation, a warm and intimate apartment in Hong Kong’s Happy Valley that naturally caters to their clients’ lifestyle, is yet another example of their approach.
‘We’re always looking for opportunities to reconfigure the layout, reorganise the use of each room and bring things back to basics,’ designer Chau Wing Chung says. So when tasked with creating the ideal home for a Hong Kong couple, the team was ready to maximise amenities and liveability in this petite 39-square-metre apartment.
The presence of punched windows on only one side of the apartment means structural constraints and limited natural light, so the designers removed unnecessary partitions to create an open kitchen and reconfigured furniture to maximise the capacity of and connection between integrated spaces.
JAAK custom designed the built-in joinery that takes centre stage in the apartment; generous cabinets, shelves and wardrobes in warm grey laminate and light oak create a sense of warmth and harmony while also connecting the kitchen, living room and bedroom and minimising visual clutter. Curves, a recent favourite design detail of JAAK’s, are also incorporated into bathroom cabinets and the ceiling.
In all, this combination of curves, neutral materials and pastel colours balance and soften rigid lines to create a cosy and welcoming living space.
Text / Nicole Chim
Images / Courtesy of JAAK
