Many Hongkongers harbour secret fantasies of breaking down the walls of their homes, welcoming light and a sense of freedom into their lives. Far from being poetic, this desire to live without boundaries is a pragmatic solution to cramped urban living.
Blurring the divide between living spaces is the core principle behind transparent boundaries.
It may sound like living in a greenhouse but with simple solutions such as glazing external walls, homes can be opened visually and physically. Ken Leung of Original Vision used a double-glazed glass panel as a replacement for a wall in a home in the New Territories, creating a feeling of outdoor resort-style living.
'We were trying to take advantage of the garden area and beachfront by blurring the boundary between the spaces,' Leung says. 'By making the ocean-facing exterior wall almost entirely of glass, we brightened the indoor space, providing both transparency but natural privacy. As a result the house is awash with natural light.'
For Hong Kong homeowners, such an open design will naturally be the privilege of only the lucky few. But within a confined high-rise space, the same sense of freedom can be had. Both flat and homeowner though must be prepared for the structural and practical challenges.
'If you're considering installing a glass wall you have to be conscious of how the connected rooms will flow together,' says Philip Liao of Philip Liao and Partners. 'Glass walls are a tool that can be used to extend and expand the perception of space, not simply space-creating devices themselves. The design must consider the whole package.' Liao suggest glass walls in a home be used sparingly and with purpose.
