What makes a home? The original Chinese character for home was a pig under a roof, which described a home's function - to provide safety and comfort.
The English saying 'home is where the heart is', describes a home as being more than a physical dwelling. It also has an emotional dimension. For Craig Au Yeung Ying-chai - writer, artist and designer who has written a series of books and is working on projects on that concept - home is a place where he can be his real self. Where he can consolidate his thoughts and communicate with himself.
'Home is where I can enjoy solitude. It is where I can be happy doing nothing. Where I can immerse myself in the 'meaningful blanks'. It is the only place where I can forget about people's expectations,' Au Yeung said.
He said that although a home was more than just the combination of furniture and design elements, the food, the environment, the people and the design all contributed towards creating the right state of mind. If any of the components were not right the home was not complete.
Au Yeung and his wife Millie live in a 1,400 sqft flat in Discovery Bay. When they moved there 10 years ago Au Yeung tore down walls and made the flat a studio. The flat was designed with only two colours - white and dark wood. No paintings or photographs were mounted on the walls. Everything was kept minimal, even the electrical appliances.
'I don't need more than a phone and a hi-fi. Technology is a disturbance. With little technology I am forced to do more meaningful things such as reading, listening to music, communicating with myself and Millie,' he said.