Is Oootopia Hong Kong's Answer to Co-living?
共居活託邦
Oootopia is a brand championing co-living while creating a community.活託邦是一個提倡共居生活，並以該理念創建社區的品牌。
Oootopia is a brand championing co-living while creating a community.活託邦是一個提倡共居生活，並以該理念創建社區的品牌。
Co-living is a term that has been floating around for quite some time, but only in recent years has it seen such a surge in popularity here in Hong Kong, likely a result of ever-increasing property prices and the growing conscious need for a sense of community. The idea of co-living is simple: you move into an accommodation with communal spaces (think kitchen, living room and work areas) and a focus on cultivating a community.
Jointly created by ARCH Capital and Wanderwonder Hospitality, Oootopia are creating true co-living spaces with the primary goal of putting humanity back into urban residential living. “Co-living will be the driving force of Hong Kong's future property market amid demand for affordable housing in the world's most expensive city for real estate. Besides offering serviced residences, our emphasis is on social interaction and entrepreneurship among like-minded people,” says ARCH Capital's CEO Richard Yue.
共居概念已存在了一段時間，但在近年才在港大行其道，可能是因為樓價節節上升，而且人們越來越喜歡與志同道合的人組織社群。共居的意思十分簡單，即是有共用空間的住宿（例如廚房、客廳及工作間），以及具備社群元素。
活託邦是擁護這種生活方式的品牌，由ARCH Capital及wanderwonder Hospitality合資經營，營造以人為本的城市居住空間。ARCH Capital行政總裁richard Yue在一篇新聞稿中提到：「香港樓價是全球之冠，人們對可負擔房屋有殷切需求，在此趨勢下，共居將會帶動香港未來物業市場發展。除了提供服務式住宅外，我們亦強調社交活動，讓共同理念的企業家互相交流。」
目前，該品牌在港有三座物業，分別位於啟德、大角咀（於5月初開幕），全新的西環活託邦鄰近堅離地城，距離香港大學港鐵站僅三分鐘路程。
Currently, they have three properties spread across Hong Kong, with locations in Kai Tak, Tai Kok Tsui, which opened in this May this year, and the brand new Oootopia West located within three minutes' walk from the HKU MTR station, close to the hip Kennedy Town district.
After working on the first and second locations, Groundwork Architects + Associates Hong Kong returned to drive the design of Oootopia West. They've decided to continue a sleek and modern style in the newest property, using plenty of natural woods throughout—said to act as a reminder that we are part of a larger ecosystem. Subtle design touches like rugs and pillows add just the right amount of home comforts to the space, yet leaves enough room for individual personal touches. Where Oootopia West differs is in its decision to implement smart furniture including foldable dining tables and Switch Beds, Oootopia's very own foldable bed system. This is a welcome addition for those looking to maximise floor space (almost everyone in Hong Kong) while retaining functionality.
Oootopia's push to accommodate the modern-day Hongkonger doesn't stop at its design. The Oootopia app puts everything that residents need at their fingertips, from accessing their room to making service requests, exploring local events and enjoying exclusive retail perks and F&B discounts.
Each Oootopia property also features a uniquely themed communal living room. Lim Boon Cheow, CEO of Oootopia, says, “We try to introduce different elements that would enhance and activate the community. At Oootopia Kai Tak, we have a cosy living room over 1,500 square feet, adorned with plants and flooded with light thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows, that creates a dialogue between the people inside and outside. At Oootopia Tai Kok Tsui, the Tea Room is subtly influenced by traditional Japanese tatami rooms, while the Ooo-bar at Oootopia West directly references the neighbourhoods' bustling nightlife.”完成首兩個活託邦建築及設計工作的Groundwork Architects + Associates Hong Kong再度獲邀打造西環活託邦，他們沿用前兩個物業的時尚摩登風格，採用大量天然木材，意在提醒人類只是大型生態系統的一部份，其他較含蓄設計如地毯及枕頭為住宿增添家的溫馨感，亦留有足夠空間營造個人風格。西環活託邦獨特之處是安裝了智能家具，包括富功能性的摺疊式餐檯，善用每一寸空間，完全符合香港人的期望。
活託邦不單在設計方面迎合現今港人需要，更推出手機應用程式，住戶輕輕一觸就可進入房間或安排服務、查詢本地活動，或享用獨家購物優惠及餐飲折扣，以配合住戶生活所需。每個活託邦物業都有獨立主題的共用客廳，集團行政總裁Lim Boon Cheow表示：「我們嘗試加入不同的元素，提升及啟發社群凝聚力。在啟德活託邦，我們有面積逾1,500平方呎的客廳，佈置舒適，擺放了不少植物，光線透過落地大窗照進室內，連繫室內與室外；大角咀活託邦的Tea Room以傳統日本榻榻米房間為主題設計；西環活託邦的Ooo-bar則直接以該區繁華的夜生活為設計靈感。」除了亮麗設計，活託邦更要營造一個充滿活力的居住環境，以貫徹共居理念。不少香港人住在蝸居之中，少與鄰居溝通，活託邦卻打破常規，共建睦鄰關係，職員與住客一同做飯、慶祝生日及策劃活動。Cheow說：「這裡有來自不同界別的人士，不論年齡、種族、性別或職業，他們都是為了追逐各自理想而在此相遇。我們的住客由廚師至時裝設計師、由銀行家至企業家皆有，各人志趣相投，共住在互相關懷的環境下，不單分享空間，亦分享經驗及人脈，建立友誼，還有一份由活託邦人所建立的溫馨之情。」
As beautiful as Oootopia's properties are, it is perhaps their commitment to creating a more compassionate living environment which deserves the most attention.除了亮麗設計，活託邦更要營造一個充滿活力的居住環境，以貫徹共居理念。
To live amongst like-minded people in an environment of genuine care and concern, sharing not just space but also experiences and networks.
As beautiful as Oootopia’s properties are, it is perhaps their commitment to creating a more compassionate living environment which deserves the most attention. In a city where many are confined to tiny apartments with limited interaction with their neighbours and surroundings, Oootopia is breaking the norm and are already seeing relationships and friendships grow, as staff and residents come together to cook, celebrate birthdays and plan activities. “What brings together our diverse group of residents is the one common passion of pursuing their dreams, regardless of age, race, gender or occupation,” says Cheow. “Our residents range from chefs to fashion designers to bankers and entrepreneurs, each looking to live amongst like-minded people in an environment of genuine care and concern, sharing not just space but also experiences and networks, and forging friendships and bonds that will give the warmth of humanity to fellow Oootopians.“
To facilitate this, guests can keep up with events and outings directly through the app. Recent events include cooking classes, moon appreciation night and a visit to an elderly home in the area where residents brought local treats to their neighbours. “For centuries, families largely lived, worked and played within the same building, epitomised by the traditional courtyard homes. In Hong Kong, however, this long-standing social fabric has worn thin as space has rapidly become a prime commodity,” laments Manfred Yuen, founder of Groundwork Architects + Associates Hong Kong. “While we can’t rewind to such a time, we can reanimate the ideal as best we can. That’s the root we’re trying to get back to with Oootopia.”