PERFECTLY IMPERFECT
This contemporary urban oasis in Hong Kong exudes the beauty of the ancient Japanese sensibility of wabi-sabi
這個半山居所交織著當代氣派與古樸的日式美學「侘寂」
When it comes to interior design, it takes courage to go full-force and experiment with wabi-sabi – the traditional Japanese aesthetic concept that accepts transience and imperfection. Often, the space will appear either sterile or rough if there is just one detail that feels off. It’s only through precise execution and delicate balance that this “flawed” beauty will be translated into a calm, inviting home.
Nelson Chow, the founder and principal of Hong Kong-based architectural design firm NC Design & Architecture (NCDA), was tasked with just that in realising a captivating Mid-Levels residence. “The homeowners and I have been long-time friends, so I already had a comprehensive understanding of their way of living and aesthetic sense prior to the project,” he explains. “The couple gladly gave us free
要在室內設計中大規模地應用古老日式傳統價值，即是以接受事物虛幻無常和不完美的核心概念「侘寂」，絕對是高難度挑戰。稍一出錯，空間就會顯得枯燥冷峻、了無生氣；唯有透過嚴謹精準的計劃和安排，才能把帶有缺憾的天然美學融入空間，打造出和諧溫暖的家園。
駐港建築設計工作室NC Design & Architecture (NCDA)創辦人兼領導人Nelson Chow受託為半山區一間住宅進行設計，並破格選用上述美學演繹當代的生活風光。Nelson解釋：「我跟屋主份屬好友，本已非常了解夫婦倆的生活方式和美感喜好。慶幸他們把新屋設計交託我們，並可自由發揮創意。」設計團隊首先從屋主們
rein to imbue our creative approach for their new home.” To start, Nelson and his team prioritised the homeowners’ request of a living environment that “looks beautiful, is functional and ages well”; above that, he interweaved a made-to-last sense of sophistication that goes beyond the eyes. “The design approach I proposed was a reinterpretation based on the ancient Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, complete with the aim of inspiring the couple to accept the minimalist imperfection and the state of incompleteness.”
The original four-bedroom apartment was reimagined into an urban sanctuary defined by three main areas, each boosting a distinctive identity. Furnished in dark timber planks, the cocooning foyer serves as an intriguing hint that suggests more within. Walking through the folding screens, you’re welcomed into the tranquil living area, where a wealth of nature-inspired appointments and decorative accents (including delicate pieces from the likes of Vincenzo De Cotiis and Apparatus Studio) reveal themselves. “We intentionally highlight a natural unfinished state with hand-brushed plastered walls and ceilings, as well as sculptural artworks composed of oxidised and hand-painted metals,” explains Nelson; he further elaborates that the handpicked lighting fixtures also help reinforce a garden-esque ambience.
“WE INTENTIONALLY HIGHLIGHT A NATURAL UNFINISHED STATE WITH HAND-BRUSHED PLASTERED WALLS AND CEILINGS”
要求新居環境要擁有「漂亮外觀、多功能和經得起時間考驗」的條件入手，再在設計意念中加入歷久不衰的精緻描寫。「我提議重新演繹日本經典的侘寂哲學，提倡接受不完美、無常和不完整的審美概念。」
住所原建4個睡房，改造後由3個各見特色的主要生活區域組成，充滿都市氣息。門廳飾以深色木板，予人別有洞天之感，很想繼續往室內探究一番。走過摺疊門，就來到謐靜的客廳，當中放有大量自然風傢具裝飾，如來自Vincenzo De Cotiis和Apparatus Studio的設計。Nelson補充：「我們特意利用手刷灰泥牆和天花來營造意猶未盡的自然效果，家中亦擺放了一些由氧化和人手上色金屬製成的雕刻品。」他們親自挑選的燈具款式也有助蘊釀「林中居」的生活格調。
While a round bronze artwork is mounted on the wall panels to discreetly hide a television, the marble slate platform that lies below is where the audio devices are kept in place, thus removing electronic disturbances. This way, the homeowners are allowed to transform their charming home into fully zen-like, stress-free surrounds. Meanwhile, a gentle push on one of the panels reveals a serene corridor that leads to the private quarters of the residence. A variety of colour palettes, shapes and textures inform a subtle transition to the master bedroom, where a generous-sized bed faces the ever-evolving outdoor scenery. Thanks to the airy reconfiguration, bountiful natural light is allowed to stream in so the couple can observe the changing environment from day to night.
At the end of the corridor is the spacious master bathroom, where materials and geometric sensibilities come into play to further elevate the altar-like retreat. Nelson and the team ensured an uninterrupted space of escapism and relaxation where the couple
客廳一個掛牆的渾圓古銅藝術品巧妙地隱藏了電視機，而下方的大理石平台則用作音響設備的收納空間，在視覺上完美遮蓋電子產品，讓屋主隨時為家居注入無憂無慮的禪氛圍。輕輕推開其中一道牆板，一條寧靜走廊隨即出現眼前，連接著屋主人的私人空間：由多種色彩、形狀和質感編織的主人房，當中放有一張朝著戶外迷人景致的舒適大床。經設計師用心重置空間布局，充沛的天然光灑遍各處，讓屋主能時刻細賞變幻不停的日夜之景。
走廊盡頭為寬敞的套房浴室，選用的物料和幾何美感使之猶如一個聖壇。和團隊用心
“THE AIM WAS TO INSPIRE THE COUPLE TO ACCEPT THE MINIMALIST IMPERFECTION AND THE STATE OF INCOMPLETENESS”
can unwind and recharge. Inviting the gaze to explore further is a striking mirror installed above a two-person bronze basin, as well as functional and decorative structures composed of marble that echo the overall design approach.
Not an inch is overly designed or embellished, making this restful sanctuary a genuine testament to the charms of minimalist imperfection – and one that brings its inhabitants closer to nature. //
設計，務求賦予空間一種逃離現實、輕鬆閒適的感覺，好讓屋主能在家放鬆自我，為身心充電。雙人古銅臉盆上方裝設了奪目的幾何形鏡子，還有一個實用又漂亮的大理石設計，跟整體設計相呼應，令人忍不住駐足細賞。
家裡不加任何浮誇設計和裝飾，滿載閒逸寧靜的氛圍，自然而然地把設計師所選的天然美學融入生活空間，讓屋主能更靠近大自然。//