Is this Hong Kong’s ultimate bachelor pad?
A covetable private rooftop, chic drinks bar and Scandi overtones feature in this spacious Wan Chai flat
It was the rooftop that sold Juan Ting on the Wan Chai apartment he bought in early 2022. The keen barbecue chef could picture steaks on the grill, drinks flowing and music pumping in a private outdoor space he’d share with friends.
As the tallest building in the neighbourhood – 12 storeys – his rooftop also offered a measure of privacy, which Ting valued. Other pluses included the relatively small number of units, including four on the top floor, each with its own rooftop garden. Little wonder that he had few qualms committing fully to renovating the dated interior of the 1,300 sq ft apartment. Combining the design services of Greg Ling Design Studio with a privately hired contractor had worked for friends revamping their homes, so he followed suit.
As a bachelor working in finance, Ting needed only one bedroom plus a home office. In the revised layout by Greg Ling Ho-sang, space from the spare third bedroom was used to enlarge the main bedroom and en suite, and to add a walk-in wardrobe. A second bathroom remains, but was updated.
In their early discussions, Ling realised that his client’s decorating ideas included contemporary, industrial and Scandi overtones. Since the key to a successful eclectic decor is balance, Ling says, he persuaded Ting to tone down some of the raw elements.
“I’d wanted to leave concrete beams exposed,” recalls Ting. “Greg said this would be too much, and I now see that he was right.”
A frequent entertainer, he’d also hoped for an open kitchen but had to make do because of a structural wall that could not be demolished. However, Ling made a connection, of sorts, by replacing the solid door with metal-framed transparent glazing, and in hindsight, Ting believes this was the right decision.
