“It was an exercise in accuracy and creative design solutions because there was so much to fit into a relatively small space”, says Maclean, who grew up in Hong Kong and established her design studio in 2018 after working for a decade on high-end hospitality and commercial projects. “Hugo and Michelle wanted to simplify their lives but they have a young daughter and two cats so the apartment had to work for all of them and be able to evolve with time.” At the heart of the home lies the kitchen/dining area, with a focus on family bonding through cooking, meal times, conversation and games.
The absence of a conventional living room, with a television screen as a focal point, was a deliberate omission by the couple and additional seats located elsewhere in the home ensure there is always room for at least one more around the table. “We both grew up in old and cold houses in the UK, where the kitchen was always the cosy family hub,” says Ng, director of The Family Zone, antenatal, postnatal and breastfeeding specialists. “We were keen to recreate the same arrangement.
” Maclean removed the wall between the dining area and the main bedroom for every last centimetre of precious space. Inspired by the intricate balance and precision of the game of Jenga, she and Tyebkhan devised a storage system as a divider for the two areas, featuring interlocking cupboards and shelves of different depths on both sides. They also hollowed out two thick but lightweight doors separati.