Traditional Chinese design turns abandoned rural Hong Kong apartment into quirky home full of character
- A couple threw themselves into renovating the upstairs flat in an abandoned house on Lantau Island and making it their dream home
- The result is an apartment bursting with colour and character that balances traditional Chinese design with soft furnishings, brushed brass and contemporary art
A property featuring peeling plaster, floor-to-ceiling mould and an interior devoid of character would deter most potential buyers. Add to this a comparatively remote, rural location on Lantau Island and any long-term urban dweller might break out in hives.
Yet when DanNi Zhao and Frédéric Rolli, former residents of upscale Mid-Levels on Hong Kong Island, discovered the abandoned 700 sq ft (65 square metre) flat, with a rooftop of the same size, in a village house in Mui Wo, they saw treasure where others would see trash.
“We weren’t very familiar with Mui Wo before we lived here and only came across the property while hiking one weekend,” says Chinese-born Zhao, who came to Hong Kong about 12 years ago and works in private banking.
“The apartment was in a horrendous state but I am a great believer in the ‘mood’ of a building and this place felt so calm. It also had lovely open views and is by a river, which equals good feng shui, so that helped seal the deal.”
There was no question about a full renovation but before work began, the couple threw a graffiti party, inviting friends to visit and express themselves in paint wherever they felt like it. (A chunk of that original wall, featuring Rolli and Zhao’s handprints, is now on display in the dining area.)
The couple asked the design team at Studio Amal (studioamal.com) to come up with initial ideas through 3D renderings. But both being creative and interested in interior design, they managed the project themselves, despite working full time, and figured out the design as the project developed, employing local workmen to do the heavy lifting.
