Making use of neglected spaces in Hong Kong homes
Need a study? How about a dog house or extra cabinets? Previously ignored areas have become useful zones in Hong Kong's small homes
You think your interior space is small? Not enough room to do what you want? Technology entrepreneur David Wu created not only a home office, but also a mini-Apple store in his Tseung Kwan O apartment, and it's just two metres by two metres.
Just like the store, Wu's shrine to his tech god includes a pillar with illuminated Apple logo, a replica of the Fetzer maple wood sales desk, silver anodised shelving, music, and "more than 20 operational iThings".
"Call me crazy," volunteers the 44-year-old, who woke up one morning and just decided to do it. But his out-of-the-box thinking does show how one person's nook can be another's treasure trove. By converting the smallest room in his house into something far more interesting, Wu achieved a fresh creative catalyst. The former storeroom that was "hardly ever used" is now the place where Wu does his best thinking and problem-solving.
Nook: an interior angle formed by two meeting walls; a secluded or sheltered place; a small, often recessed section of a room. Even the dictionary explanation of the word conjures up interesting design ideas.
Fancy a cosy space to curl up with a book? You need a reading nook. To overcome space constraints when there's no room for a dining area? Tuck a bench seat into a corner and call it a banquette. Build a desk in a cupboard and there's your office.