Dennis Lee

Opinion | In crowded, consumerist Hong Kong, can we learn to build and live with less?

Building more efficiently would minimise waste and maximise space. And when we understand that the most essential things are not material goods taking up space, we can re-evaluate how much living area we really need

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A family of six seen in their subdivided flat of around 200 sq ft, in Sham Shui Po, on November 21. Given a reasonable flat size, comfort can be a matter of how the occupant uses the space. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Dennis Lee

Published: 8:15am, 4 Dec 2022

“Less is more!” This is how Ludwig Mies van der Rohe – “Mies” in the architectural world – described the essence of the International Style he pioneered in the 1920s. Even if they were unfamiliar with the architectural icon and stylistic jargon, most people would have heard of this catchphrase, used in the minimalist movement or pop culture.

Mies’ buildings, whether in Chicago, Barcelona or Berlin, stand the test of time; decades later, they are still more contemporary than many new projects. The International Style is not only “international” but also timeless.

But less of what, more of what? Mies aspired to build with only the necessary structural components to define and enclose architectural space. “Less” is about reducing materials, clutter and decorative elements that are superfluous to the building’s construction.

What resulted are large interior volumes, full-height glazing and clean planes from floors and walls to ceilings. “More”, meanwhile, is about maximising spatial quality, daylight, connection to nature and flexible usage.

More than 100 years later, Mies’ architecture is still relevant. His motto is often cited beyond the design world in crafting a meaningful and productive lifestyle – long before Ryan Nicodemus and Joshua Fields Millburn promoted “A rich life with less stuff” on TED Talks or Marie Kondo launched her tidying consultation empire.

Some consider “less is more” to be synonymous with minimalism, but it should be closer to essentialism: keeping optimal, meaningful and vital elements for the best outcome. This concept is particularly relevant in today’s environmentally conscious world and more effective than any retrospective sustainability measures because of the proactive approach of consuming less right at the beginning.