As Hongkongers work from home again, property firms put office features into new residences
- Sun Hung Kai Properties says it has integrated innovative design features in new residential developments
- Families living in small flats can set up work zones with flexible wall systems, according to architecture firm
New residential developments have had to rethink communal spaces, said Simon Chua, the co-founder and executive director of architecture firm Lead 8. “The traditional clubhouses are useless during the pandemic. Some developers have started converting them to co-working spaces that people can rent during the day. [They can] share facilities such as printing, meeting rooms and flexible spaces for work and relaxation,” Chua said.
The company has installed a strong IT and communications infrastructure at its latest developments, including St Martin in Tai Po, Wetland Seasons Park in Tin Shui Wai and serviced flat project Townplace Soho on Caine Road. All units as well as the clubhouses have Wi-fi to facilitate communications “anytime anywhere”, it said.
“One of the first and foremost considerations was to have a robust IT infrastructure, both wired and wireless, to meet residents’ growing demand for bandwidth and to ensure seamless communications between residents and their working partners and colleagues working elsewhere,” said Robert Chan, project director at SHKP.
The clubhouse at St Martin has stylish co-working spaces. Townplace Soho’s “Duo Social Space” communal area comprises indoor and outdoor spaces that have been designed right from the outset to be work friendly. It has commercial-grade Wi-fi as well as USB ports throughout the indoor and outdoor spaces.
“Because of size limitations, the developments have versatile clubhouses, as well as gardens and alfresco lounging areas, that address both the social and working needs of residents. Stylish co-working spaces are integral to the clubhouses,” Chan said. “There are also soundproof function rooms where residents can host meetings, video conferences or simply work in private. Basic tools such as printers and photocopiers are handily available.”
“Having a 24-hour clubhouse, our residents can make conference calls anytime with business partners in different time zones, without disturbing their family,” said Albert Poon, project manager of Sino Land’s development division. “With [just] a laptop, residents can work poolside, or in the sitting area of the garden, as we have installed battery chargers everywhere, ” he said, adding that upcoming new projects would have such facilities as a general principle.
Mandy Chan and her husband work from home three days a week, and she has found it tough working from her 800 sq ft three-bedroom flat in North Point. Her Husband bought a printer recently, and it occupies a corner of the dining area. Documents have piled up on the table that she needs to share with her family.
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“Both of us work in the dinning room, as the Wi-fi signal is weak in the rooms,” she said. “My kids, aged four and five, will shift to online classes from Wednesday. Can you imagine us using the dinning room as an office and classroom?”
Families living in small flats without access to clubhouses can set up work zones with flexible wall systems, according to architecture firm Stefano Boeri Architetti China. “This physical separation is also a way to protect your personal life” from work stress, said Yibo Xu, a partner and director at the firm.
