It had been a long wait. But finally William and Ophelia Wong were able to buy the next-door apartment to theirs in a block in Mid-levels and knock through to create the sprawling space, spanning the entire floor, that they had dreamed of.
Having such a wealth of space in Hong Kong is a luxury, but it brought with it its own challenges. Nevertheless, Jason Yung and Caroline Ma of Jason Caroline Design were ready to step up to the task and take on the design of this new 4,500 sqft space and the unusual floorplan that resulted from its inception.
“A bigger space doesn’t mean it’s more flexible,” says Jason. “The most challenging part was scaling down the space, screening off areas but at the same time ensuring the family stay connected.”
To do this, the designers tried to create a space in the style of a contemporary Manhattan apartment where different rooms serve their function rather than share space. “We started out the project by dividing the spaces. We used rotatable wooden screens and the fireplace,” says Jason. These design elements helped to separate the living area into foyer, TV room, lounge area and dining space.
Interestingly, the designers also incorporated technology as a means for space division, playing to William’s background in tech and electronics. “Music and lighting are also part of the screening, but are invisible. There is the flexibility to adjust them individually in the different zones and connect them back together as desired,” says Jason. Speakers, for example, are hidden above the ceiling and allow different music to play in different zones without conflict, or throughout the space, as required.
The flat is entered via a private lift lobby and visitors are greeted in the foyer by a welcoming fireplace. There’s a cabinet above it designed to look like a chimney. This entrance provides a feeling of open space without immediately revealing the view. Go on to enter the expansive living area, which is divided by the custom-designed pivoting panels that can be left open for increased flow or closed to cordon off the different zones, and the fabulous unobstructed views of the major landmarks of Central, Wanchai and Admiralty will be revealed, with I. M. Pei’s iconic Bank of China building taking centre stage. Living areas as well as the bedrooms and master bathroom have all been laid out to make the most of an outlook that never gets old.
Given the unusual floorplan, fitting the different rooms and spaces into the irregular shape of the combined apartments was challenging. Looked on from above, the flat appears like a butterfly with its wings spread. Jason and Caroline dedicated one side of the butterfly to adult space, with the master suite including walk-in wardrobe and dressing room, wine cellar and William’s study concentrated there. In the centre of the apartment lie the lift lobby, foyer and sweeping living and entertaining space, while to the other side lies the part of the flat where the family gathers, comprised of kitchen, dining area, family room, and bedroom with adjacent playroom for the couple’s young son, Nathaniel.
The atypical floor plan gave way to a number of unusually shaped spaces. Making everything functional was not always straightforward but with the irregularity came opportunity for the addition of more surprising features, including some that were pre-requisites of the couple, such as the special testing and show kitchen for Ophelia. She runs a bakery business, Oookie Cookie, and needed somewhere to recipe test and craft her exquisite cakes, cupcakes, cookies and macarons. This show kitchen takes up space on one side, while symmetrically opposite it lies the walk-in wine cellar. There’s also a storeroom for William’s toys just off his specially equipped study complete with state-of-the-art sound system and superior acoustics.
The apartment is populated with design-forward furnishings from the likes of Giorgetti, B&B Italia, Minotti and Tom Dixon that complement the sleek interior architecture. Alongside the walk-in dressing and wardrobe space, sophisticated wine cellar and modern laboratory kitchen, this stylish, characterful Mid-levels apartment will have design fiends, wine connoisseurs, fashionistas and foodies all swooning.
