Truong always dreamed of opening an art gallery so as the managing director of Wellington Gallery and Wellington Showroom, studios that feature contemporary Buddhist imagery by Asian artists, he is able to combine his faith and aspirations.

The flat renovation, by Hernan Zanghellini of Zanghellini Holt Architects (tel: 2914 2563), posed a challenge. 'It is very hard to work in such a tight space,' says Zanghellini, who normally designs commercial properties and restaurants. 'We couldn't have more than one crew member working at a time and we were never able to get the custom-designed bath tub into the elevator.' Still, he says, it was an enjoyable project. 'I have known John for a long time and knew he wanted a calm, seductive place. I am not 100 per cent minimalist, but the size demanded a simple mixture of materials.'

With that brief, Zanghellini demolished everything and converted a pokey two-bedroom apartment into an open studio with a concertina door that can conceal the sleeping area from the living area. Several large windows take advantage of the open views and allow in light.

The interior reflects Truong's pan-Asia life exper-iences and has a spiritual ambience. The front door opens into a small passage that leads to a work station, the living area and the sleeping space, dominated by a raised Japanese-style platform bed fashioned from rich French rosewood, complete with storage space beneath.

The kitchen, to the right of the living area, has all the modern conveniences and extra storage space tucked near the back door. The bathroom, with tub and bidet, is off the sleeping area. A full-length closet is hidden near the bathroom door and overhead storage was created by adding shelving at ceiling level.

The simple textures and materials used by Zanghellini are earthy and sensuous. Red birch wood horizontal veneer delineates the living area, bringing to mind the interiors of Buddhist temples. The poured concrete floor of the living and kitchen areas is smooth and contrasts with the rough black granite of the kitchen wall. Grey - on the walls and floor - complements the charcoal sprayed on the wall that divides the bedroom and bathroom. The cloudy white of the remaining walls and ceilings expands the space. The result of this serene colour palette is a cool flat with a warm vibe.

Truong finds satisfaction in his home every time he enters it. 'When I come home I can switch off even though I'm in the middle of the city. It is very relaxing.'

1 The rough granite wall in the custom-designed kitchen offers a tactile counterpoint to the smoothness of the poured concrete floor. The wooden stools ($11,000 each), resting against the partition door, are from Nest (since closed), as is the Cassini couch ($38,000).

4 The book shelf and ceiling cabinet provide precious storage that does not reduce the living space. The pair of pencil drawings are by Somboon Hormtientong, an artist Truong represents. The wall-mounted BeoSound stereo is by Bang & Olufsen.

5 A bath tub that was custom made for the flat did not fit in the building's elevator, so Truong found a replacement in Wan Chai. The Phillipe Starck Duravit bidet and toilet ($15,000 for the pair) are from H2O (332 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2834 1661). The Aboriginal tribal mask was bought in Australia.

6 The custom-made sink is like a slice of granite bursting from the Earth. The accompanying custom-designed cabinet, by Tim Ho (10 Anton Street, Wan Chai, tel: 9077 7853), fits perfectly under the sink. The vertical clothes closet was built into the door frame.

7 The custom-designed desk to the side of the main living area separates it from the rest of the space. The desk chair ($2,700) is from Nest. The Japanese-inspired desk lamp ($3,200) is from Flos (shop A, Winway Building, 50 Wellington Street, Central, tel: 2801.7608).

tried & tested

air apparent