Just A Little patience
One couple finally realise their dream home On lantau after waiting nearly five years for government approval. the Outcome is a fresh, easy, family-oriented space
Living in a spacious, detached home with a back garden is a pipedream for most Hongkongers, but that wasn’t the case for this graphic designer and her family. Long before they grew to be a family of four, this creative couple had traded a hectic city existence for Lantau’s laid-back, island lifestyle. And once they had children, there was no turning back. “The close proximity to the beaches and mountains makes our home a great, natural, outdoor playground for the whole family,” says the homeowner. “Our kids are able to cycle around, spot a variety of wildlife, and it’s not so densely populated. It’s a great balance and contrast to city life.” The family lived in numerous village houses on Lantau before spotting the one they would convert into their family home. The original property on the site was a tiny, two-storey house built in the 1970s – not exactly what they had envisioned for their growing family. The couple decided to level the
“The close proximity to the beaches and mountains makes our home a great, natural, outdoor playground”
existing building and start from scratch. What they didn’t anticipate, however, was the painstaking, fourand-a-half-year process involved in applying for a redevelopment permit. When their application was finally approved, it came with caveats: they had to follow an irregular, elongated f loor plan, as set out by the Buildings Department. The couple commissioned their friend, interior designer Frederic Bourquin of Atelier B, to turn the unconventional layout into a modern, functional home. “It’s Lantau, so we couldn’t go crazy, and we had to come up with very simple ideas,” says Frederic. To kick things off, he decided an industrial-style wood and steel
staircase would be the central feature of the home. The airy staircase serves as a bridge between the two long, narrow wings of the home, and it helps diffuse natural light through the spaces. “The client didn’t want too many windows because they didn’t want the home to be too hot in the summertime, so we tried to play with the architecture, lighting and shade,” says the designer. Frederic designed the space in a way that allows its residents to engage in shared pastimes, as well as find privacy when they want it. The upper floor is dedicated to the children’s rooms and a yoga studio; the master bedroom and family cinema are located on
“It’s Lantau, so we couldn’t go crazy, and we had to come up with very simple ideas”
the second level, and the communal areas, including the open kitchen and dining area, are on the ground f loor. There is also an outdoor dining area for sundowners and alfresco meals. The designer kept the home paredback and simple, giving it a casual cosiness that’s ideally suited to the family life that the homeowners wanted to create. This also helps the home feel light and airy, especially given the limited number of windows. To add a touch of visual interest and a splash of colour, the homeowners sourced beautiful, painted cement tiles from Vietnam. The Portuguese-style tiles evoke a laidback, Mediterranean feel that echoes the family’s relaxed approach to life. “It’s a home to unwind in, to ref lect and contemplate in, and in which to live at a slower pace,” says the lady of the house. “And above all, it’s a place where we can have fun as a family.”