For one Mid-Levels resident, turning an old flat into a bright modern apartment was all a question of space exploration.
Out with the old and in with the new may be the adage that guides some house hunters, but for Wei Jing-tao it was the old he desired. 'Because older buildings are all beam and column construction, I knew I could tear down whatever walls I wanted and be more creative in an older space,' says Wei. So when he came across a 1960s Mid-Levels flat with three outlooks and a floor plan that needed an overhaul, Wei knew his quest was over.
The 1,250-square-foot apartment was purchased from the original owners who had made only minor renovations over the years. The space was initially laid out as a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home, with an L-shaped living/dining room, a small kitchen and a maid's room, plus a balcony that had been walled off. Wei, who wanted an open, loft-like environment, converted the flat into a one-bedroom, one-bathroom home with a large kitchen/dining area and a comfortable square living room, reclaiming the balcony in the process. Needless to say, many walls were sacrificed for his vision, which is a monument to form, function and flexibility.
The home, which is entered via a stainless-steel door into the kitchen, has a clean, paired-down ambience with elements of minimalism tempered by carefully designed furniture, scrupulously collected decorative pieces and a mixture of muted materials and textures. Slate tiling in the kitchen gives way to wenge-wood flooring in the dining area, which is dominated on one side by a wall of thick, individually cut limestone rectangles. The limestone blocks, mounted at different angles, create a rippled effect that softens the hard material.
Flush to the base of the limestone wall is a series of 'roll boys', caster-wheeled benches that provide storage space and can be positioned around a table for dinner-party seating (see Tried & Tested). The glass concertina doors opening onto the balcony, which has a gorgeous view over the harbour, complete the room.
The square living room, to the right of the dining area, is highlighted by a taupe wall, the only spot of colour in the flat. This area can be partitioned in half by sliding out an ingeniously hidden pocket door to provide guest quarters when required. To the right of the living room, Wei replaced a bedroom wall with a sheet of glass that can be curtained off for privacy and darkness.