Ho Man Tin has long been one of Hong Kong’s most understated, luxury residential districts. Of late, its reputation as one of the most salubrious spots in greater Kowloon has only been enhanced by the residential construction phenomenon that is One Homantin.
Drawn by its central location – just three brief MTR stops away from Admiralty – and its proximity to some of HongKong’s finest educational institutions (including the King George V School and the Stamford American School), it has proven a haven for young families. After all, when young residents are not being equipped for all their future life challenges, it’s a setting also offers easy access to many of the city’s fabulous green spaces, including, of course, the ever popular Ho Man Tin Park.
While many have favoured the distinctly upmarket complex’s garden flats or simply been knocked out by the quality of the residents-only facilities on offer at the on-site clubhouse, the true prize has been perched above it all, looking down in unrivalled splendour – the One Homantin Penthouse.
Extending across some 1,489 square feet on the upper storey – the 19th floor – of One Homantin, it boasts three capacious bedrooms and one extra-capacious master suite. As well as its extensive indoor acreage, it also comes with exclusive access to 1,265 square feet of rooftop space – an ideal setting for a little alfresco foliage, an unoverlooked sun trap or just a place to watch the far-below world gone by.
Despite its obvious and many advantages, this artfully-designed space didn’t wholly match the spec of its most recent purchasers – a family of four, including two teenage children. While already won over by its existing allure, they felt it wasn’t quite as cosy as they might have liked, while also wondering if it couldn’t be just that little more contemporary. At the same time, they were adamant that ease of access to the roof space was a priority – an area they had previously earmarked as perfect for entertaining friends and family alike.
Naturally, given the scope of the challenge and the importance of getting it exactly right, choosing the perfect design team to oversee it all was of paramount importance. This saw them opt for PriimoCasa Interiors, a Hong Kong-based firm, with an award-winning track record for reimagining upmarket residences.
Heading this particular project was Leslie Lam, Co-Founder and Interior Design Director of the Sai Ying Pun based business. Outlining his approach, he said: “In order to create a cosy ambience, I favoured the extensive use of natural materials, especially timber floors and wall panels. I also added in a few champagne-gold stainless steel trimmings to create the requisite luxury feel.
“In the living and dining areas, we chose to up the colour quotient of the furnishings and drapes. This made both spaces notably more vibrant and more welcoming.”
Moving upstairs, the master bedroom presented a particular challenge. As it stood, the room boasted a sizable feature window, which was set immediately adjacent to the optimum bed positioning. The client, however, had mixed feelings as to whether or not they wanted the window to remain in situ. Outlining his elegant solution to this particular problem, Lam said: “I designed a sliding panel that exactly matched the design of the headboard. Not only did this help unify the space overall, it also gave the residents absolute discretion over whether and when they wanted the window to remain a feature.
“Apart from this one instance the floor-to-ceiling windows,which are featured throughout the apartment were very much seen as plus-points by the clients. Pretty much without exception, they provide a delightful surfeit of natural illumination, making the whole residence bright and supremely welcoming without any need for artifice or supplementary lighting.”
As one of the apartment’s assets that went a long way towards sealing the deal as far as the incoming family was concerned, the re-design brief majored on making the most of the rooftop space. Explaining how this particular challenge was met, Lam said: “Ultimately we opted to segregate it into three dedicated zones. The largest of these comprises a sizable alfresco dining area, complete with barbecue facilities and table space for up to eight.
“There is then a bespoke chill-out space, complete with sofas and armchairs, where the family can relax and enjoy the view out across Victoria Harbour. Finally, there is a discreet jacuzzi area, which is just about perfect for a spot of personal pampering or a little sunbathing….”
