Hillside Apartment is a minimalist apartment located in Hong Kong, designed by YY Projects. A single welded seam traces the edge of a stainless steel countertop, its minimalist perfection speaking volumes about the careful consideration of detail in this 40-square-meter Hong Kong apartment. This seemingly small design choice embodies a larger philosophy: that in compact spaces, every millimeter matters, every material tells a story, and craftsmanship becomes not just visible but vital. The apartment’s location in Tai Hang provides a fitting metaphor for its design approach. Just as this neighborhood represents a palimpsest of Hong Kong’s architectural evolution – from traditional Tong Lau buildings to contemporary towers – this renovation layers modern sensibilities onto historical foundations.
The designers have performed a delicate balancing act, one that speaks to both Hong Kong’s space constraints and its cultural appreciation for adaptability. The decision to completely relevel the floor emerges as a foundational act of craft, both literally and metaphorically. This intervention, while invisible to the casual observer, creates a seamless canvas that unifies the space. It recalls the Japanese concept of “ma” – the meaningful space between things – where absence becomes as important as presence. The designers have embraced this philosophy by deliberately moving away from Hong Kong’s prevalent “maximum storage” approach, instead creating what might be called “intentional emptiness.”
Materials play a crucial role in this spatial narrative. The choice of oak flooring isn’t merely aesthetic – it provides a warm counterpoint to the industrial precision of stainless steel elements, while the green-grey tiles echo the weathered patinas of Tai Hang’s historic structures. These material choices root the space in its context while pushing forward into contemporary design language. The integration of pocket doors represents a particularly sophisticated understanding of spatial choreography. These architectural elements become performers in a daily dance of transformation, allowing six distinct spaces to flow into one another.
This approach reflects a broader shift in contemporary living, where spaces must be as fluid as the lives they contain. The lighting strategy deserves special attention for its technical innovation. By eliminating traditional ceiling fixtures in favor of indirect cove lighting, the designers have created an ethereal quality that seems to defy the physical constraints of the space. This solution demonstrates how technical necessity can be transformed into aesthetic advantage through thoughtful design.
The post Hillside Apartment appeared first on Leibal.
