When Patrick and Carol Chan bought a new 2,800 sqft duplex in Sha Tin, the first thing they looked for was a designer who knew his stuff in terms of interior architecture. Their light-filled space, with a 12-foot-high ceiling and expansive windows, had lots of potential but they needed someone to realise it.
They chose Anderson Lee of Index Architecture, who gave them the option of a conservative (pleasant but lacking the wow factor) or radical approach (a total redesign with an innovative renovation of the interior).
To Lee's delight, the Chans proved to be bold, so he set to work reconfiguring the staircase; doubling its width and creating a link between the two floors.
'I was extremely pleased when they picked this option,' says Lee. 'It's visually very stimulating. There are not many opportunities in Hong Kong to do this kind of work.'
The unit, which has a kitchen and living and dining rooms downstairs and four bedrooms on the upper level, had been linked by regular stairs. Lee transformed the staircase into the functional and aesthetic focus of the home.
The lower level is open plan with the living area on a raised platform above the kitchen and dining room. Another step up is a lounge and the base of the double-width staircase. Each level defines a specific area - dining, living and lounging.