How a Hong Kong microflat made outside living a sight for sore eyes

Finding an apartment with a private outdoor space in a centrally located part of Hong Kong is no mean feat. Which is why it took Malaysian accountant Joseph Lam two years to find a property that ticked all his boxes.

Housed in a nondescript building near Sai Ying Pun, the 400 sq ft flat, which needed a complete facelift, wasn’t an obvious choice. It was the terrace of the same size with a 180-degree view of Victoria Harbour that sealed the deal.

“I have a very busy schedule and find that plants and gardening give me peace of mind,” says Lam, who has lived in Hong Kong for five years. “For that reason, I wanted a good outdoor space to come home to and relax in. Thanks to the estate agent who had been helping me look, I was lucky enough to be the first person to view this apartment as soon as it came on the market. Despite its condition, I knew instantly I’d found my home.”

Lam contacted designer Dylan Tan Dar-luen, whose work he had seen and admired in these pages. They began collaborating on the renovation, which took about three months to complete.

“The original layout wasn’t space efficient so that was one of my priorities,” Lam says. “Dylan helped me to maxi­mise the space by incorporating storage into every nook and cranny.”