Choosing a pied-a terre to rest and unwind in when travelling to Asia was an academic exercise for one professor. To pass the test, the flat had to be spacious, have expansive views and be away from the city and crowds.
Harmonious, functional and meticulously balanced - it's perhaps no surprise the clean symmetry of this 1,200-square-foot apartment on the beachfront near Hong Kong's Gold Coast belongs to a finance professor. Kalun Tse lives in the Netherlands, but his punishing work schedule takes him all over the world and, increasingly, back to his native Hong Kong. This year, he decided to create a second home here that would be a convenient pied-a-terre in between teaching commitments in China and across Asia. He targeted an out-of-city neighbourhood but was mindful of avoiding the super-dense, high-rise developments that are like mini-cities themselves.
'It's an easy place to land and take off from but it had to be comfortable and relaxing. That's why I chose this location - it's away from the city and the crowds so I can really unwind,' says Tse.
Once he'd settled on the right apartment - the bottom line was the spectacular, uninterrupted ocean views that disappear into the sunset - he began searching for a designer. Tse instantly clicked with Andre Fu (AFSO, tel: 2523 6998). 'I spoke to him once or twice and he seemed to understand what I wanted without much prompting,' recalls Tse. 'Space is important for me to be relaxed and not cluttered by things. I prefer a more minimalist approach and don't want to spend a lot of time tidying.' Tse also admired Fu's attitude to colour. Some might describe it as minimal but it's hardly stark white - think latte and lilac as opposed to vibrant accents. 'I didn't specify any colours but I did mention that I wasn't sure about anything too sharp that would be out of fashion within a few years. I wanted something long-lasting, and that really came across in Andre's work,' says Tse.
Contrary to the rambling old house he occupies in the Netherlands, Tse's Hong Kong home was originally divided into bite-size rooms. He decided to demolish the walls, leaving only the structural ones standing. Tse is also averse to corridors and, while he initially shied away from an open kitchen, he realised in its enclosed state it left a confined passageway at the entrance to the apartment. Once he saw how spacious the rest of his home felt after most of the walls had been torn down, it was easier to knock out the remaining kitchen wall.
The master bathroom stretches the idea of openness even further. The only barrier separating the sleeping and showering areas is a sheet of clear glass.