Tiny tree-house-inspired Hong Kong apartment takes its design cues from the forested hillside it faces
A young professional’s cosy 370 sq ft flat in Kowloon – complete with elevated ‘bunk bed’ – blends seamlessly with its leafy surroundings
Big is not necessarily better, as Hong Kong architect Nelson Chow Chi-wai’s design for a 370 sq ft home for a young client proves.
“Thoughtful design is transformative even for the smallest of spaces,” says Chow, of NC Design & Architecture. “But it is more than simply a question of efficiency and functionality because a real home also needs to be cosy and should reflect the personality of the person who lives there.”
Consisting of a living area, kitchen, bathroom and an elevated double “bunk bed”, the playful tree-house design concept takes inspiration from the view through picture windows of a densely forested hillside in Kowloon.
“The apartment is very much a city-style loft but still feels like it is in the forest,” Chow says. “It was obvious that the interiors should reflect both its urban and natural settings.”
The apartment, in a new 30-storey building, originally featured a single-level layout with one bedroom. Removing the bedroom’s wall and raising the sleeping space above the dining area opened up the living room, giving the home a more spacious feel.