The Pak She Kok promenade lies along a strip of reclaimed land in the southern New Territories, an area home to a growing number of high-end apartment complexes. One particularly noteworthy example is Sino Group’s Mayfair by the Sea, an exclusive and luxurious estate of sea-facing premium lifestyle apartments that aims to recapture much of the glamour and sophistication of its central London namesake.
Heading up from a welcoming luscious green boulevard to the centred water fountain that fronts the main entrance of the complex, it would be hard not to feel like you have entered a realm of exclusive opulence. It’s a sensation that one particularly impressive luxury apartment within the complex goes out of its way to amplify.
In the case of the residence in question, Viz Design, a Wan Chai-based interior design specialist, was given an open brief and encouraged to let its creativity and imagination run freely, with the aim of delivering a home space that was both aesthetically pleasing and eminently practical. Having worked for the homeowner in the past, the consultancy’s two Principals – Kevin Yip and Waif Chan – were already in tune with his expectations and intent on creating a living space capable of housing two very different individuals, while factoring in all their contrasting habits and varied preferences.
“Mayfair by the Sea captures much of the glamour and sophistication of its central London namesake”
Essentially, the owner’s – seemingly contradictory – intent was to “accommodate diversity while encouraging unity”. Almost literally, then, the challenge was to create a fusion of what to many would seem competing opposites. The first stage in delivering on this apparently insurmountable challenge was to unite two things that were currently distinct entities – two adjoining apartments. This saw the pair purchased and then expertly realigned into one relatively huge residential space.
This artful amalgamation ultimately delivered a combined floor space of 3,743sq.ft, absolutely palatial by Hong Kong standards. It also incorporated another of the owner’s particular preferences, with the refurbished residence fetchingly decked out with marble tiles, all flecked with luxurious gold, silver and bronze accents.
One of the most commanding features of the combined space, though, is the large balcony windows that offer a panoramic view across Tolo Harbour and the rolling hills of the Pat Sin Leng mountain range, which extends across the primary living and dining rooms. Within both internal areas, the dualist ‘yin and yang’ concept is highly evident, with both sides of the lounge and the dining space notably symmetrical in terms of colour palette and contours.
Similarly, metallic ovals outline the chandeliers mounted on the ceilings on both sides of the divide, a feature reflected in the black fitted marble tiles on the floor below. This sense of unity is also clearly apparent in the artful arrangement of the furniture and the specified colour motifs.
Another striking feature here is the side-set mini bar. Structured around a white marble counter and grounded by dark wood supports in a glossy finish, it is beguilingly accented with a reflective silver outline throughout. Alluringly set behind it is a glass cabinet, framed by an audacious wall of vertical golden waves, an apt counterpoint to the darker elements found elsewhere in the dining area.
In the case of the kitchen, the brief was to create an enlivening space within which to welcome the day. Viz’s solution was to install a clear white marbled interior and a selection of white-oak cabinets, as well as a balcony window through which ample sunlight diffuses throughout the room, heightening the sense of spaciousness. The island counter, discreetly set apart from the preparation areas, meanwhile, is the perfect refuge for those looking to enjoy a solitary brew.
At the very centre of this two-in-one home are distinct boundary markers, which clearly territorialise the respective living spaces. Despite the extensive reworking, the hallway area still harks back to the original division of both units, which previously comprised eight rooms and four halls. Instead, the reconstituted residence now feature two long hallways at either ends of the home and just five eminently airy room.
Heading deeper into the more intimate spaces of the abode, the bathroom stands out as particularly intriguing, largely on account of the striking dual sink facing a luxuriously landscaped mirror. Again, here the priority is clearly on creating a shared space with bespoke personal acreage, a fine and ably-realised balancing act.
Turning to the master bedroom, this is notably grounded in far more earthy tones, while still incorporating an unmissable sense of splendour via its minimalist gold outlines and miniature wall-mounted chandeliers, all of which artfully complement the room’s wood and tawny-toned elements. Again, expansive windows have been incorporated as a means of maximising the natural light flow.
All in all, the apartment is premium lifestyle writ large and that’s without even considering the access it allows to the complex’s 120,000sq.ft communal garden and play area, as well as the landscaped Club Mayfair clubhouse, which offers breathtaking views out across the sea and provides a myriad of fitness and relaxation facilities. In addition, the nearby Pak She Kok promenade runs alongside the Tai Po-Shatin cycling track, one of the most popular such facilities in the city. Indeed, whether it’s interior luxury or outdoor resources, sharing or sheltering from the world beyond, the residence’s abiding duality is always to the fore.