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Cambridge House Private Residence

Inner Sanctum, Outer Joy

Sector
Residential
Location
Hong Kong
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Cambridge House Private Residence

Inner Sanctum, Outer Joy

The owner of this 1,400 SF flat travels very frequently and for extended periods. Given this lifestyle, his primary focus was understandably on creating a ‘personal sanctuary’ – a very private place for repose, reading, and ‘shutting off’.

However, he also very much enjoys entertaining, and does so for close friends several times per year. It would be imperative to develop a highly-impactful, yet comfortable living-&-dining area that could accommodate up to 10 people for dinner, or up to 75 for cocktails.

After demolition, the flat’s floor area is comprised roughly of two rectangles fused together at the middle at an angle, to form a widened ‘boomerang’ of sorts. A noisy road with uninspiring views runs along the front of the block, whilst the rear views offered a beautifully tranquil, green view. In response, we subverted conventional apartment planning – which would typically include an internal corridor serving bedrooms and bathrooms – creating instead a daylighted passageway along the street-facing side of the flat.

This unusual move achieved two vital goals in one stroke:

Firstly, by refusing to bisect the space with a corridor, we created an unobstructed ‘inner sanctum’ for the master bedroom suite, which would enjoy the calming natural setting at the rear of the building. Secondly, this externally facing passageway would serve as a buffer against street noise.

The remainder accommodates an expansive living-&-dining area, served by a foyer (a rarity in Hong Kong, an unexpected and gracious gesture) and an office. The entire home is enlivened by the owner’s impressive art collection.