The average Hong Kong kitchen is seven square metres and the average bathroom three square metres. Not very spacious. That is why product designers are coming up with ingenious ways to maximise use of tight spaces.
European brands, especially, are rising to the challenge, and designs are increasingly incorporating multiple functions - without losing sight of practicalities and aesthetics.
German brand bulthaup (Space Kitchen, Shop A, Lower Ground Floor, Ruttonjee Centre, 11 Duddell Street, Central, 2868 9438) makes top-of-the-range kitchen equipment. Though costly, the designs are sleek and allow for flexibility in a small space. The brand is best known for its introduction of the workbench.
The two main collections available in Hong Kong are System 20 and System 25. The latter combines all the basic functions of a kitchen worktop. The addition of a shallow basin turns a sink into a preparation workstation, and a ridge allows cutting tools, boards and stainless steel accessories to be moved back and forth along the basin.
According to bulthaup representative Leslie Lau, System 25 is popular in Hong Kong because it 'looks more elegant than System 20'.
System 20 emphasises mobility and, according to Mr Lau, is a breakthrough collection in kitchenware. The design allows for flexibility in small kitchens. Feet or castors enable the unit to be placed in almost any environment, and elements can be added one at a time. System 20 accommodates washing, cooking and integrated powerpoint facilities, a waste disposal element and a storage unit.