Indholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2024 i Home Journal

On Thursday, 7 November, Hong Kong’s design elite gathered at CVIEW, M+ for the fifth annual Home Journal Awards, a celebration of the city’s finest in interior design, architecture, and lifestyle. The soirée, attended by some 180 guests in "Zen Moment" attire, stands as a perfect testament the awards' founding vision of bringing the industry closer together. This year’s awards were presented in two categories: The Best Designer Awards and The Best Brand Awards. A distinguished jury panel, this year composed of industry luminaries including Joe Cheng, Founder of Cheng Chung Design, Chun Hang Yip & Otto Ng, Architecture Director & Design Director at LAAB Architects, Denis Montel & Julia Capp, Artistic director and Executive Vice President & Chief Executive Officer at RDAI, Michael Young, Founder of Michael Young Studio, Tina…

They say nature is the ultimate muse, it’s no surprise that a California-based author couple sought their ideal writing nook nestled deep within the mountains. “This mountain home is designed as a creative retreat,” says Eric Logan, AIA, partner at CLB Architects, the visionary behind the project. The couple, both authors who also run an independent record label in Mill Valley, wanted a nature-focused getaway in Wyoming to fuel their writing – a place welcoming to both family and their Irish wolfhounds. Nestled against an aspen grove at the foot of Wyoming’s scenic Teton Range, the 35-acre compound comprises three distinct structures: a main house, a guest house, and a dedicated writer’s studio. Each is carefully positioned to complement its specific location within the landscape. “The property encompasses diverse ecosystems,…

In the coveted Brentwood Park enclave of Los Angeles, a storied Mediterranean-style residence has undergone a mesmerising transformation, courtesy of the visionary French-Italian designer and builder, Tancred Vilucchi, founder of Maison Vilucchi. This palatial dwelling is home to a globe-trotting power couple – the husband, an entrepreneur and philanthropist, and the wife, a talented painter and photographer. Both are deeply committed to giving back to their community through various charitable organisations. Their home, originally built in the pre-1990s era, presented Vilucchi with a unique challenge – to reinvigorate the space and tailor it to the homeowners’ distinct tastes. “The wife had always felt the house was too big to live in,” he says. “So, I had to balance the proportions and scale, adapting it to their lifestyle and making them…

This 2,200 square foot apartment in the prestigious Jardine’s Lookout, known as House Y, has been designed for serious art lovers. It is more than just a living space; it’s a private gallery brought to life by Melt and designer Alvin Lee. “The design hinges on two pillars,” Lee explains, “meticulous attention to detail and a harmonious interplay of materials. The goal was to create a space that resonates with artistic sensibility.” This philosophy is evident from the moment of entry. The front door has been crafted with traditional French Straw Marquetry – hand-inlaid straws that shimmer with light. “The straw’s fibres possess a subtle sheen, and create varying light reflections from different angles.” A copper-clad entryway serves as a transition into this art-filled sanctuary. Custom-made maple veneer cabinets line…

Okinawa has always been a place of intrigue: azure oceans, hidden underground bases, and the secret to longevity. It joins Sardinia in Italy, Costa Rica, Icaria in Greece and Loma Linda in USA as one of the world’s “Blue Zones” — regions renowned for exceptionally long lifespans. This Japanese archipelago boasts an impressive concentration of centenarians, with roughly 68 out of every 100,000 residents reaching the century mark. Some attribute it to local herbs, others to daily exercise or even the meditative act of gardening. But spend a little time on this island, and you’ll realise it’s not just about living longer; it’s about living better. I landed at Halekulani Okinawa on a blustery afternoon. The weather was anything but typical idyllic Okinawan postcard-perfect. But after the grey skies cleared, the…

BOTTOM UP Club Bâtard, a new three-story private club, has opened in Central’s historic Pedder Building. Conceived by Joyce Wang Studio, the club’s centres around a striking, glass-enclosed wine cellar connecting all levels, showcasing an impressive collection visible throughout. The cellar’s top floor is a true stunner, where intricately joined wooden beams forming the wine racks, creating a visual dialogue with the neighbouring Cantonese restaurant Hop Sze. Clever use of mirrors throughout the three-story cellar, especially around the staircase between the second and third floors, creates a kaleidoscopic effect while visual enlarging the entire space. The opposing OBE whisky bar features a towering floor-to-ceiling shelving unit. Further inside, intimate booths, reminiscent of Hong Kong’s classic cha chaan teng seating, offer a more private space for cosy gatherings. clubbatard.com PERFECT MATCH…

Like a resurrected phoenix, the iconic 50-year-old Dusit Thani Bangkok was rebuilt from the ground up as part of a new mixed-use development, Dusit Central Park. Overlooking Lumpini Park, the new 257-room hotel, which opened its doors in September this year, sets a new standard for luxury hospitality while respecting the original hotel’s history and heritage. The new building was designed by Architects 49 and OMA Asia Hong Kong and its elegant interiors were crafted by renowned Hong Kong interior architect André Fu. It includes an urban spa, 10 restaurants and bars, and 53,820 square feet of meeting and event spaces along with one of the city’s largest grand ballrooms. Fu says his inspiration for the hotel’s design started with a vision to celebrate Thai culture on a global stage.…

The rural landscape of Quebec in Canada is dotted with gabled roofed barns nestled amongst farmlands and pastures. Montreal-based Atelier Échelle finds the humble and functional form of agricultural architecture enchanting with a raw beauty. For a holiday home in Magog on the shores of Lake Memphremagog, the firm’s co-founders Veronica and Mathieu Lemieux-Blanchard used the barn archetype to anchor the structure. Their client is a couple with three grown children seeking to escape the city and indulge their passion for art, cooking and entertaining alongside outdoor activities such as boating, fishing and swimming. This brief led to a clean, crisp interior design that showcased the couple’s art collection within an array of four distinctive volumes connected by glass bridges that feels at home with the southeast Quebec countryside. “The…

Tucked away in So Kwun Wat, this 800 square foot flat by Dumb Design + Production takes Nordic design beyond its minimalist roots. The design artfully marries bold choices and meticulous detail, mirroring the homeowners’ fervour for fashion and contemporary aesthetics. Founded by Leo Tam, the company’s quirky name belies a depth of design intelligence that sets it apart. This richly textured unit serves as a prime example. Originally featuring three bedrooms and two bathrooms, the homeowners’ love for cutting-edge fashion and their passion for sneaker and clothing collections paved the way for them to embrace Tam’s bold and inventive vision. “The design follows the homeowners’ love for Nordic aesthetics, but it doesn’t feel simple or austere. Instead, the design is rich and layered, incorporating various details, materials, colours and contrasting…

This renovated Tsim Sha Tsui health and beauty shop in Hong Kong is as vibrant as its brand. INUF, standing for “I Never Use Foundation Breakfast Club”, is a Hong Kong brand focused on an eco-conscious lifestyle. Founder Olive Wong envisioned the new store to evoke an “extraordinary vibe” aligned with the brand’s mission – breaking boundaries, embracing natural elements, and cultivating a refined lifestyle. Reimagined by local design firm CTRC Design, the flagship store in Tsim Sha Tsui has undergone a complete transformation. Bold colours, textures, and patterns coexist harmoniously within the 1,500 square foot space. Led by founders Christine Tsui and Ryan Cheung, the design harnesses asymmetry and contrasting colour palettes to reflect INUF’s commitment to a natural style. “Our design approach isn’t confined to a single style,”…

On a quiet lane in the former French Concession, No. 9 Hui An Fang stands as a beautifully restored testament to Shanghai’s architectural heritage. This four-storey lane house, complete with a rooftop attic, is a protected structure that has been thoughtfully renovated by Zhou Wenqing, founder of DAFU Design, as a second home for his family of six. The project was a sensitive reimagining of a new-style lilong – a traditional Shanghainese lane house – respecting its past while embracing modern living. “I’m drawn to things with a history to tell,” Wenqing says. This 90-year-old building on Shaoxing Road, a street steeped in literary history, immediately captured his attention. “Across the lane is the former Hanyuan Bookstore, a favourite haunt of Leslie Cheung,” he says. “And you can still hear…

Good work leads to returning clients, and this 665 square foot apartment in The Grandiose, Tseung Kwan O, is living proof. Designed a decade ago by Oscar Yeung, it has been invited back for a well-deserved refresh. The brief was clear: retain the original minimalist aesthetic, but maximise storage. “White is still the dominant colour,” says OK Decoration Design’s Oscar Yeung, “but the material landscape has evolved dramatically. “Even ‘white’ now comes in a vast spectrum of shades and textures. We opted for a sleek grey stone-look tile in the living area to unify the space, complemented by grey wood and marble accents. A touch of champagne gold on the cabinet edges adds a touch of understated luxury.” The living room’s stunning sea views were slightly compromised by glimpses of neighbouring…

Located on a secluded cove of Phuket, Trisara offers everything even the most discerning beach bums would swoon for. Phuket is having a moment – a whirlwind of fashionable cafes, buzzing restaurants and bars, with new resorts sprouting up left and right. But beyond this tropical frenzy lies Trisara, the stuff of dreams for those craving relaxed privacy in the lap of luxury. Sprawled across 40 acres of untouched beauty, Trisara – meaning “the garden in the third heaven” in Sanskrit – offers a total of 64 guest villas and private residences, each perfectly angled to capture the breathtaking vistas with no neighbouring buildings in sight. Imagine waking up to your private infinity pool blending right in with the azure waters of the Andaman Sea – that’s Trisara in a nutshell.…