KS Studio Ltd has created some unforgettable high-end duplex units in Pokfulam – quiet, luxurious properties in which attention to detail is a given and the interior design is of the highest order.
Tag: design
KS Studio Ltd – Designs to take your breath away
KS Studio Ltd creates exquisite spaces that encompass all types of environments, from residential and commercial projects to grand villas, incorporating designs that ooze class and convey beauty and distinctiveness.
Winners of “The Henderson Land Realising Your Imagination Creative Competition” Revealed
The winners of a competition organised by Henderson Land Group (“Henderson Land” or “the Group”) called “Realising Your Imagination Creative Competition” have now been announced and their work will be on display for public viewing from June 3 – 14.
The competition was designed to encourage communal imagination through creating multimedia artworks with inspiration from the Group’s contributions to the city.
A total of 17 awards were revealed at the award ceremony held on 31 May, with the participation of professionals from the architectural, design, art, and academic fields.
“The Henderson Land Realising Your Imagination Interactive Exhibition”, a free public interactive exhibition at H Queen’s will showcase the award-winning works and combine the experience of viewing art and collecting NFT souvenirs for the first time.
Through the fusion of digital art, a 270° immersive experience, Augmented Reality technology, and personalised NFT souvenirs, the 12-day art exhibition features artworks that depict future communities, cityscapes and lifestyles.
One part of the exhibition called “Immersive Space” offers a 270° immersive experience by taking visitors on a visual journey of the Group’s contributions to the city, such as the developed International Financial Centre complex and ArtLane.
At the “Web 3.0 Creative Space”, visitors will get a chance to create unique NFT souvenirs based on photos or videos of their AR-enabled interactions with winning artworks. The NFT souvenirs will be stored in the visitors’ Henderson Land NFT wallet.
The Champion artwork in the Student category was inspired by the concept of a time capsule, and a group of enthusiastic, dream-pursuing students crafted a story to depict an imaginative future, where their future selves read letters written by themselves in the present, so as to demonstrate how the future of Hong Kong becomes better with urban planning.
The Open Group’s Champion is a digital artist who took inspiration from ArtLane, Henderson Land’s first urban revitalisation project Urban Art in Soho. The awardee uses point cloud, VR and other technologies to conduct a memory exploration experiment for the audience. The artwork combines original music and the sound of waves to express the concept of coexistence between man and nature.
Winners were awarded art trips to Europe and/or cash prizes, together with a memorable and unique NFT e-certificate as a token of encouragement.
The public may utilise the AR filter at the exhibition and share their preferred future scenarios with the hashtag #RealisingYourImagination and tag @hendersonlandhk on their personal Instagram accounts. Participants will get a chance to receive a souvenir, while five participants with the most inspirational entries will each be rewarded with Matcha Latte Japan Premium Set from an F&B tenant at H Queen’s.
To discover more “Realising Your Imagination” moments, please click here to visit Henderson Land’s brand website.
The Henderson Land Realising Your Imagination Interactive Exhibition
Date: 3 – 14 June 2023
Time: 12 pm – 8 pm
Venue: 9/F, H Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong
Admission: Free admission with a chance to create an NFT souvenir (limited availability while stocks last)
Click here for more information.
These eyewear specialists go beyond vision with new tech, premium materials and modern designs
Choosing the right lens for your reading glasses is the first priority to consider. Factors such as grading (the magnification of the lens required for each eye) and weight of the lens, and of your spectacles overall, are also key. But reading glasses have come a long way since they first came into existence. Now, style is as much as of a selling point as substance.
Fortunately, there are any number of eyewear specialists in Hong Kong that can give you both great advice on what you need to see clearly, as well as look great. Read on, as Gafencu takes a closer squiz at some of Hong Kong’s most promising eyewear specialists.
The Right Optics
Before you go picking out your next fashion statement, it’s important to feel comfortable with your glasses as well as ensuring your choice of eyewear is as much functional as fashionable. To ensure you choose the right lens for your eyes, it’s essential to make an appointment with a reputable optometrist to test and assess both your eyesight and the overall health of your eyes – determining if you are short sighted, long sighted or have some other issue that impairs your vision.
A tip to picking the right optics is to note that each eye requires a different level of magnification. Choosing the right lens is essential to enable clear vision but to avoid health issues such as squinting, eye strain and headaches. Another factor to consider is the composition, and weight, of your lens. Generally, durable, high-quality, scratch-resistant plastic (also referred to as acrylic) lenses have the advantage over those made from glass, as the latter tends to be heavier and is easily cracked. In modern optometry, plastic lenses are preferred – ensuring the wearer has the most lightweight and comfortable experience when wearing their eyewear.
3D and Customised
One of Hong Kong’s up-and-coming bespoke eyewear providers is Blackzsmith Optical – making a name for itself by applying cutting-edge technology to its spectacle-making process via 3D printing.
By obtaining facial data with 3D-scanning technology, the bespoke eyewear is created based on customers’ facial 3D models. The process identifies 72 key points on the face and with the data obtained providing a professional basis for the frame design. In excess of 20 different parameters of the 3D eyewear that can be adjusted, including frame size, nose bridge width and temple length and more – with all these parameters coming together to ensure the perfect fit and wearability of the frame.
This label also prides itself on creating spectacles that are handcrafted by the technician with an eye for design and a passion for creativity. The luxurious sensibility of the brand’s collections focuses on traditional skills and immaculate craftsmanship. Blackzsmith is gaining appeal among local Hong Kong pop stars as well as key opinion leaders. Some of the eyewear brands it stocks include Matsuda – which is a favourite of the Japanese imperial family no less. As well as rising eyewear brand Ahlem – creating a buzz among the likes of Beyoncé and Kate Moss, who are apparently two of the French brands most ardent admirers.
Horny Eyewear
For a spectacle specialist with a point of difference, look no further than Smith & Norbu. One of the key parts of a pair of the brand’s glasses design is the yak horn.
To tease out how this unlikely turn of events came about, we need to go back to 2007. This was when Belgian entrepreneur Benoit Ams – on a trip to Tibet – was transfixed by craft works made from yak horn. The germ of an idea was sown and from there the concept of creating high-end spectacle frames using this fit-for-purpose material was born and eventually found its place in modern eyewear designs.
The manufacturer explains that natural yak horn is not only a lightweight and highly resistant material, it’s also a surprisingly vibrant natural product with subtle colour nuances that make genuine horn superior to other man-made materials. The use of natural horn makes the frame more comfortable to wear than synthetic alternatives and is also an anti-allergic product.
Manufacturing a piece of spectacles involves as many as 50 separate operations to create a single pair of frames and it takes meticulous attention to detail to produce durable, high-quality eyewear. The process of horn-based spectacle manufacturing is even more precise. First, the horn is cut and pressed into horn plates. Then, individual plates are carefully selected based on their colour pattern. Each finished product is then assembled with the brand’s signature rivet.
Vintage Chic
But if you prefer to stick with a classic look, or something that’s a little on the edgy retro side, look no further than Absolute Vintage. Since becoming established in 2010, it’s a brand that prided itself on creating bespoke spectacles that are designed specifically to fit the contours of Asian faces. Absolute Vintage also incorporates unique Hong Kong themes and characteristics into its designs. So much so that it has even been featured as as a highlight on the Hong Kong Tourism Board website.
Bengogh, the eyewear specialist’s chief designer, draws inspiration from the city’s surroundings in each of the brand’s designs, with many named after the streets of Hong Kong – capturing the essence of local culture in each pair of spectacles created. The brand also challenges the notion that reading glasses are just an optical aid, but rather promotes the idea that eyewear are a personalised accessory – and form an essential part of the wearer’s daily attire.
Focusing on classic spectacles and frames with an iconic visage, Absolute Vintage does away with cumbersome glasses by producing personalised, top-notch frames with a vintage aesthetic, while incorporating a range of styles, including round, cat’s eye and square, in a variety of bold colours and, of course, tortoiseshell.
Hong Kong’s star architect Betty Ng on shaking up the design world…
Founding her own design firm, COLLECTIVE, was a steep learning curve for youthful top architect Betty Ng. Now she aims even higher by teaching tomorrow’s talent…
You are one of Hong Kong’s leading architects, yet you’re only in your late 30s. How did your relationship with design begin?
Like many Asian kids, I was a strong science student and was studying to become a doctor, particularly a surgeon, but life had other plans. A schoolmate went to university to study architecture and that got me fascinated. I was hooked and thought it was a really interesting field and decided to switch my career choice.
You founded your own architecture studio, COLLECTIVE, with former colleagues from OMA and Herzog & de Meuron. Tell us about the work you’ve done in Hong Kong.
COLLECTIVE is headquartered in Hong Kong, but in the past six years we have done a diverse amount of work internationally – Honolulu, Helsinki, New York – and we are currently finishing assignments in Vancouver and Pasadena. In Hong Kong, our credits include designing the exhibition “Things, Spaces, Interactions” at M+ and all four Kapok lifestyle stores, among other projects. On a bigger scale, we are thrilled to be working with New World Development on their twin tower and commercial podium project in Cheung Sha Wan. As a young firm, these are phenomenal opportunities. COLLECTIVE was born only six years ago and we already have a MIPIM Asia ‘Best Futura Project’ Award [in 2021, for the King Lam Street commercial development] – that’s incredibly special!
How has your education shaped your career?
I was born and raised in Hong Kong, went to Diocesan Girls’ School, then to Cornell for my Bachelor’s in architecture, and later to Harvard for my Master’s. Furthering my education in the West was a completely eye-opening, explosive exposure. It instilled a lot of confidence and taught me about handling failure.
My work has taken me around the world – Rome, Madrid, Los Angeles, New York, Rotterdam, Hong Kong, Beijing – and that opened new avenues of self-exploration, courage and self-reliance. I want the same for our firm – take root in Hong Kong, then grow all over. COLLECTIVE has a presence in San Francisco and Madrid, and I want it to keep evolving, adapting and expanding.
Also Read: January Cover Star – Helena Pong on creating a wholesome learning environment for children
You’ve worked at cutting-edge global design firms and established your own company, which is already breaking the mould. Which accomplishment are you most proud of?
As a Design Director at OMA, I worked closely with the legendary architect Rem Koolhaas on various high-profile projects like the Axel Springer Campus in Berlin. Working on the concept masterplan for the West Kowloon Cultural District was also a big opportunity, but I don’t think I have reached the stage where I can say I have accomplished this or that. The word ‘accomplishment’ has a certain finality to it; it signifies the end, in my opinion. I don’t think I have accomplished much yet and I still have a very long way to go, but I do think our firm is on the right trajectory – our vision and mission plans will guide us to do a lot of good work, not just in Hong Kong but hopefully, all over the world.
What is it like being a woman on the top in a very male-dominated industry?
There is no denying that architecture is a male-dominated industry, but things are changing. In addition to leading my firm, I also teach at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and over half of my students are female. The lack of women in the industry is not indicative of their interest in the sector, but more on the limited female representation in top positions. I hope to change that narrative.
Personally, I don’t think too much about whether I am female or male – I am an architect. I focus on the designs I create. In return, fortunately, I am surrounded by people who see me for what I bring to the table rather than my gender. I hope to inspire the younger generation and remind them that in 2022, disrupting the state of play is certainly possible.
Tell us about the challenges you encountered while setting up COLLECTIVE.
There were a lot of hurdles, but grasping the business spectrum of running a firm was the biggest lesson. At one point, I even considered doing an MBA to understand organisational structure and skills, but a lot of my mentors suggested running a practice in the real world – managing exposure, making mistakes and learning from them is the best MBA you can do. In the last six years, I’ve failed several times, picked up and started again, learnt immensely and I’m very happy with the progress now; I’ve acquired a skill, not only in design but also in running a successful company.
What are your resolutions for 2022?
One thing which is dear to me is nurturing young talent. As well as teaching at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, I’m on the jury of the DFA Hong Kong Young Talent Design Awards, and it’s been a very rewarding experience.
Secondly, I want our company to have a more solid, robust foundation. Not to be arrogant, but in terms of design capability, my three business partners – Chi-Yan Chan, Juan Minguez and Katja Lam – have ensured we are right there, but in the coming year we want to develop our business efficiency.
What is the secret to a timeless design?
Every time I start creating something it’s always tabula rasa, starting from zero. There is no cookie-cutter approach; both as a firm and as individuals, we believe in balancing the clarity, function and aesthetic of a space. Every opportunity is a chance to do ground-breaking work, be experimental and move away from default. That is real timelessness – to keep changing, moving and inventing with time.
How important is sustainability to you personally in the design process?
This is a very tricky question because the most sustainable thing would be to not build anything. To me, sustainability is more than greenwashing – we’ve designed Penicillin, the world’s first completely sustainable bar, and we believe in cultural and heritage sustainability. We worked with a local neon sign maker to create new neon lights – the continuation of culture is sustainability as well. Reuse and recycle are important concepts. We’ve developed a special line of tables from fallen trees in typhoons, and it was redesigned to becomes a long-lasting product. The idea is to maintain your spaces – if your design is long lasting, then you are not going to be wasteful in reinventing and refurbishing.
Who inspires you?
Rem Koolhaas is perhaps one of the most important architects of the century, and it was incredibly enriching to be his Design Director. His buildings can be found all over the world, yet there is no easy way to define Koolhaas or his style. That unique ability to deal with hope and contradictions in an ever more complex world is what shaped me as an architect.
In the current day, it’s my partners at COLLECTIVE. We all have individual strengths and weaknesses, but together we are a force to be reckoned with. Never believe anyone when they say you can run your own firm! Architecture is not a one-man job – there’s never really just one person, one brain behind a knock-out design, it’s at least a hundred! I’m grateful to have stellar partners and a brilliant team.
Also Read: Hong Kong socialite Helen Ma talks about beauty, life and her latest venture
Interview By: Nikita Mishra; Photographer: Jack Law; Art Direction & Styling: Jhoshwa Ledesma; Hair and Make Up: Owen Ko
Andante presents a trio art exhibition of Italian flair and imaginative design
Lifestyle expert in design furniture, lighting and decor, Andante showcases the ostensible collections of three talented Italian contemporary artists during Art Month.
Having ventured into the art world fairly recently, Andante celebrated Art Month with a tribute to the legacy of Italian design within its Design Showcase venue located in the heart of Central during Art Basel week on May 21. Featuring Milan-born Matteo Negri and Federico Casati, as well as Bali-based Alessio Ceruti in a riveting group exhibition elegantly staged within the 4,000sq.ft emporium in which guests were invited to explore the allusive, and often thought provoking, collections of pictorial and sculptural pieces on display.
Presenting pieces of Matteo Negri’s sculptural works from his L’Ego (Ego) series as well as pictorials from his Ho Le Montagne Negli Occhi (I have the mountains in my eyes) series. While the former, a Lego-shaped sculptural collection, revisits the inherent childlike ambitions of exploring creativity and individuality, the latter expresses the architectural type and impulses deriving from natural data through mixed-media pictorial displays.
Staying with sculptural creations, Alessio Ceruti’s newest project A New Shape opens eyes to new and compelling visions of the world around us by inserting everyday objects into different contexts – transforming them into unrecognizable shapes. A visual metaphor of the inevitable change over time and the heartening embrace of recreating new experiences and memories.
Moving towards the captivating works of Federico Casati, the play of light and shadows in his Reale-Apparente (Real-Apparent) and Combinaziaoni (Combinations) series challenges the viewer’s perception of reality and the ambiguity of everyday experiences. The allusive pictorial presentations of geometries was constructed by superimposing a thin brass sheet on a monochrome background, of either the same colour or a tonal variation, in a variable distance to create a three-dimensional effect.
The exhibition will continue to run until 30 June 2021 at The Design Showcase, Andante Hong Kong. Shop D, G/F, 11 Duddell Street, Central, Hong Kong.
For more information, please visit www.andante.com.hk
The Best of Bespoke: Stylish accoutrements and accessories to add to your collection
Introducing the best of bespoke fashion in Hong Kong this season, Gafencu has curated four noteworthy brands to add to your collection, from sustainable garments and accessories to art-inspired and gender-neutral statement pieces, here are the best of bespoke fashion…
A sustainably handmade ring by Belinda Chang
Using only traditional handcraft skills and recycled gold, the Ametrine Stella Ring, is a one-of-a-kind sculptural ring that embodies the essence of bespoke craftsmanship and sustainability. Designed by Belinda Chang, owner of Hong Kong-based jewellery studio Obellery, this 18k yellow gold, Ametrine and clear sapphire ring (all gems hand-selected by Chang) offers a uniquely contemporary take on dots and dashes, and boasts traditional cast-in-place technique to reshape the recycled gold.
Available at Obellery, Central. obellery.com.
Calligraphy-inspired pendants by Sauvereign
Hong Kong-based luxury label Sauvereign launches a new collection comprising 24K attachable gold-leaf gem pendants, designed to flexibly accessorise the maison’s bespoke collection of heels and handbags. The INK 4 Legacy takes its inspiration from both contemporary ink and calligraphy. Utilising an exclusive in-house, painstaking 80-step procedure, the finished articles showcase the brand’s bold and uninhibited brushwork in the form of flawless gold-leaf and ink lacquering.
Aavailable exclusively at Landmark, Central. sauvereign.com
Edgy, androgynous SS21 fashion collection courtesy of DEMO
DEMO, the Hong Kong-headquartered luxury fashion brand, has avowedly set out to redefine both masculinity and femininity by defiantly dodging stereotypical gender labels in its SS21 Collection. With an array of bedazzling handmade crystal and gem embellishments, detailed embroidery and a fresh new texture, with the latter cunningly delivered by interlacing tweed, the brand’s signature element, with leno-fabric, this ’80s-inspired ensemble showcases soft but edgy bedazzling statement pieces that boldly encapsulate soft masculinity and creative self-expression.
Available online at demo-official.com.
The R Collective’s sustainable Refashioned collection
Meeting both the need to keep up with ever-changing fashion dynamics and the growing emphasis on reducing waste in the clothing sector, upcycle fashion brand The R Collective works to eliminate fashion waste by accelerating sustainability and circular economy through the reuse and recycling of luxury materials. Each piece in the wide range of sustainable items within the Refashioned collection is backed by ethical values and embodies the philosophy of ‘slow fashion’.
Available online at thercollective.com.
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Ten Napkin folding designs for special occasions
Table napkins are essential in any dining setting as they keep food stains off the clothes and face of the diners. Artfully-folded napkins go a long way to set the tone in any party whether it is a family dinner, a children’s birthday party or a festive occasion. What stands out first and foremost when guests sit at the dining table is a meticulously-presented serviette folding. Here are some simple and easy napkin folding styles that can impress party guests.
The Rose
An artistic twist to elegant napkin folding design is to come up with a rose. It’s simple and easy but it’s also a fashionable adornment to set on the tableware.
Click here for the folding tutorial by Blossom.
Lotus Flower
Almost too beautiful to unfold, the lotus flower is a unique and impressive folding design that will likely impress guests.
Click here for the folding tutorial by One King Lane.
Bow tie
A feminine and very simple way to do this is to use a ring to hold together a neatly folded bow tie.
Click here for the folding tutorial by Apartment Therapy.
Tuxedo
An event for gentlemen calls for a smart and neat dining napkin presentation.
Click here for the folding tutorial by mycrafts.com.
Floating Leaf
Simply elegant and outstanding yet extremely easy to do, the Floating Lead napkin style will go a very long way to make ordinary lines look impressive to guests.
Click here for the folding tutorial by Secret Stash.
Ocean Waves
A dose of creativity that can delight and inspire attendees to a children’s birthday party is the Ocean Waves folding design.
Click here for the folding tutorial.
Christmas Tree
Add the spirit of Christmas to a festive dinner with friends and family by employing a neatly-folded miniature Christmas tree that will certainly be welcomed and delight both adults and children.
Click here for the folding tutorial by Handi Mania.
Card Placement Style
Easy and stylishly presentable, this card placement style can pocket a variety of customisable attachments such as, knick knacks, utensils, a menu and name card.
Click here for the folding tutorial by Sanctuary Home Decor.
Fleur De Lis
This simple folding style is held together by a ring and presents an elegant placement on the serving place of each and every guest.
Click here for the folding tutorial by Secret Stash
Rosebud
An easy folding style with a touch of sophistication which can even be customised with floral decorations or a small bottle of wine for each guest.
Click here for the folding tutorial by Kitchen Joy Blog.
Where to find elegant dining napkins and customizable serviettes that can lend attractive styles to the dining table:
For eco-friendly compostable napkins that can be customized with printed greetings or letterings to present guests with a more personal experience.
Patterned linens and serviettes with accessories that present an avant-garde style that will add some flare to your dining table.
Provides in elegant fashion a variety of single-coloured or exquisitely-patterned napkins.
For simple shimmer napkin sets that can highlight the decorative dining wares and artful centerpieces on your dining table.
Hong Kong iconic buildings designed by international designers
Hong Kong has been known for years as one of Asia’s major financial and banking hubs, comparable to major hubs in the West, including New York and London. Aside from this distinction, the city is also known for scores of its iconic skyscrapers, courtesy of some of the world’s most prominent and renowned designers and architectural firms. We present some of the city’s most iconic structures designed by renowned international designers.
HSBC Main Building
1 Queen’s Road, Central, 1985
Designed by internationally-acclaimed British architect, Norman Foster, the HSBC main building was a one-of-a-kind design. Its internal design is absent of a central structure, presenting an open free-space that resembles a gallery more than a building. It was reputed as the most expensive building across the world when its construction was completed in 1985.
Bank of China Tower
1 Garden Road, Central
The Bank of China Tower is a 72-storey office tower designed by Chinese-American Pritzker Prize-winning architect, I. M. Pei. Its distinctive glass curtain walls, sharp edges and pointed tower makes it a truly unique landmark in Hong Kong’s Central district. Until 1992, it enjoyed the distinction of being the tallest building in Hong Kong and Asia.
International Finance Centre
8 Finance Street, Central
The integrated commercial complex simply known as IFC is one of the most prominent landmarks on Hong Kong Island. It consists of Tower One, the 55 storey Four Seasons Hotel and Tower Two, the second tallest skyscraper in Hong Kong, towering over the waterfront at 415m. It was designed by César Pelli, an architect known for some of the tallest buildings in the world.
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai
Built in 1988 on reclaimed land off Gloucester Road is one of the two major convention and exhibition centres in Hong Kong, the other being AsiaWorld-Expo. The complex was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merill LLP and took only 48 months to complete from reclamation. It sits along the shore, overlooking Victoria Harbour in three fronts, a distinctive landmark that everyone coming through the harbour won’t fail to see.
Jockey Club Innovation Tower
Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Hom
In 2007 Zaha Hadid and her firm won a competition that was set in place to develop a deign that would symbolise the driving and development of Hong Kong as a design hub in Asia. Hadid and her firm’s goal was to “dissolve the classic typography of tower and podium to create a seamless piece”. She said, “The tower promotes a diversity of civic spaces “. Hadid is also the first woman to win the Pritzker Prize award.
This villa on Mount Davis is an inspirational take on green architecture
The dawn of the Digital Age saw humankind embrace all things electronic. Engineers have developed smart phones, smart cars, smart watches and wearable tech. But far more elusive and ambitious is the greater project of the smart house.
We first encountered “Mount Davis Villa” when visiting the International Design Furniture Fair that ran last August at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. It was part of a touring exposition entitled Reading Single Family House, a showcase of inventive homes in Greater China curated by Index Architecture founder Anderson Lee.
The project caught our attention as a rare subject belonging to a dying breed of single-family homes in Hong Kong. Upon closer inspection, the mystery project on Pok Fu Lam’s mountainside revealed more and more ingenious features that would delight the cultivated mind: from solar design principles and wind generators to hydro-seed technology for wall landscaping.
Clearly no funds were spared in the fulfilment of the home-owner’s vision. The man is described as a “naturalist and avid bird watcher involved with the World Wildlife Fund.” Further digging led us to Markus Jebsen, executive chairman of MF Jebsen Group and a direct descendant of Jacob Jebsen – founder of its colonial-era parent company. The Danish businessman belongs to a 120-year-old trading family whose assets include one of the world’s largest Porsche dealerships and Blue Girl, the city’s best-selling brew.
“The owner insisted on environmental friendliness and as much self-sufficiency as possible,” said architect and interior designer Santa Raymond, who reviewed the project. “Materials and construction methods aimed to be [as] sustainable as possible, with – for instance – rubble from demolition being used to level the site. Wind turbines were considered but, apart from planning issues, the lack of access to a local grid into which to feed excess power removed this as a practical option.”
The three-storey house sits on the southern slope of Mount Davis with broad views over the Lamma Channel. Formerly occupying this 600-square-metre site was a one-storey European house with a swimming pool belonging to a relative. It was demolished to make way for the current building, which is sandwiched between Mount Davis Road from the top and Victoria Road below.
Award-winning architecture and urban design firm Farrells was chosen to turn this vision of an eco-friendly family home into reality. Designers were initially set back by the long and narrow site; regulations limited interior space to just 420-square-metres across three floors. In response to the rectangular constraints, Farrells designed a long building – a concept partially inspired by the Malaysian longhouse. The form ultimately allowed wide sea views from most rooms, promoted cross ventilation and provided an acoustic shield.
To the north, a large vertical stone façade anchors the house to the ground and shelters the dwelling from the road. Clad in split face stone, the wall is reminiscent of Mount Davis itself. The stainless steel roof, inclined at 30 degrees, also echoes the slope of the hill.
On the ground floor, inhabitants congregate in the double-height family room, which has direct access to the external garden terrace and children’s swimming pool. Guest bedrooms are located here as well, while the family’s bedrooms are on the second floor.
The first level is comprised of the kitchen, main living room and dining space. A large opening in the stone feature wall makes up the main entrance, accessed from the outside by a cantilevered staircase. A spiritual rejuvenation area – designed to ‘let the dragon through’ – includes both a gymnasium and a projecting infinity lap-pool.
For all its aesthetic appeal, the villa was fundamentally designed to utilise the latest environmentally friendly technologies. Double glazed windows, large mass walls, and an insulated roof reduce the house’s cooling load. North-facing operable skylights also facilitate a stack effect for natural cooling in summer months.
The roof’s aforementioned solar collectors provide hot water that powers the water-fired absorption chiller, which provides air-conditioning. In addition, a gray water system was incorporated to collect rainwater from the large roof and garden where it is stored in a tank and used for bathroom flushing and garden irrigation.
“Young architects can’t work on anything but boxes nowadays,” says Lee, who featured the 2005 villa in his exhibition. He chose the Jebsen home as one of the few Hong Kong residences that can be proudly presented as a triumph in holistic, ‘life-cycle approach’ design.
Raymond concurs: “The house is impressive at every level. It is a highly sophisticated solution on a demanding site that works as a family house, as a part of its location and as an example of innovative thinking. Its aesthetic defies categorisation, but communicates that it is an imaginative solution to a specific location and situation.”
American naturalist Edward Osborne Wilson once said, “Nature holds the key to our aesthetic, intellectual, cognitive and even spiritual satisfaction.” For all of mankind’s advances in building and composition, it looks as if we remain destined to return to the work of the greatest designer and architect of our smart planet: Mother Earth.
This article originally appears as “The Smart House” by Julienne C. Raboca on Gafencu Magazine’s March 2018 print edition. Photos are courtesy of Farrells and Carsten Schael.