The entrance to Yat Tan's 2,800 sq ft Mid-Levels triplex penthouse is on Rednaxela Terrace, a curious street name purported to have come about after a sign painter accidentally wrote 'Alexander' in reverse. Such quirkiness can also be found in Tan's home, which frequently breaks design conventions. The living room, for instance, is on the top floor and the grand kitchen and dining area are on the lowest level, where one enters the flat.
'It's unusual but I wouldn't have it any other way,' says Tan. 'I wanted my home to be a place where people could come and hang out. Having the living room so far away means I have my own sanctuary. It's a private space only a select few get to see.'
Investment banker Tan bought the apartment in November 2010 and commissioned Chinc's Workshop to refurbish it. The renovation took four months, during which time the interior and furniture design company transformed the flat into a relaxing place in which the Australian could entertain, with the heart of the home - the kitchen and dining area - opening onto a balcony.
One side of the building affords a spectacular view of Victoria Harbour. To complement the lights of the skyline, Chinc's Workshop installed LED lighting beneath the kitchen work-tops. 'You'd normally find this kind of design in a commercial setting,' says chief designer Cyrus Cheng. 'The client wanted it to feel a little like a wine bar and in this size of space that really works.'
To create a generous balcony, the exterior wall was moved back, inside the apartment. 'Most people would think that reducing the space inside the home is crazy,' says Cheng. 'But we knew the balcony would really make this work.'
Full-height glass patio doors help blur the distinction between inside and out, making the most of the views and creating the illusion of space.