More retirees buying offices as private spaces to work, relax or entertain

What do you do after you have retired? Some people spend their days playing golf, others travel. A few sit at home. But not Nick Wong, who opened an office. Wanting a "study away from home" where he could relax, entertain and continue to work, the father of three and former banker searched for a large space in a convenient location that would accommodate his new lifestyle.

When eventually he found what he wanted, in Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, he hired Jason Yung and Caroline Ma, whose designs he admired in the homes of friends, to create his private/public retreat.

Jason Caroline Design knocked together two flats to form a 1,300 sq ft work/play space that, they say, reflects an increasing desire to entertain at "home" but not actually in one's personal digs. Their design, called "Home Office, Office Home", last month won a merit prize in the Spacial - Office category of the Hong Kong Designers Association's Global Design Awards.

"Inviting people home requires lots of tidying up before and after," says Yung. "Buying a second home is costly but office or warehouse space is relatively cheap. You can create a second dream home for yourself without being too concerned about your kids, or spouse."

The set-up perhaps also reflects a trend sparked by growing numbers of semi-retirees worldwide, whose population is set to increase to 1.5 billion by 2050, according to the US Census Bureau.

While they may not put in the same hours as they once did, many (19 per cent of people between 55 and 64, according to a recent HSBC survey) segue into semi-retirement because they like to work, have to work or just like being around colleagues.

Although he keeps the office mostly to himself, Wong says his children use the 3.2-metre conference table when they're back in Hong Kong during school holidays, as do his temporary staff.