NEVER TOO SMALL Small Family Hong Kong Apartment - 40sqm/430sqft
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- Опубликовано: 22 дек 2020
- Within Hong Kong's typically cramped living spaces, Absence from Island has designed a transforming 40sqm home for a young family of three. Rattan in Concrete Jungle was converted from an aging 90’s apartment, to a neat, airy home. By moving doorways, as well as creating full height storage and furniture that folds away the most intrusive items, like the dining table. In turn creating more room for the baby to play, and parents to work. It’s namesake rattan covers obscure even more storage and provide a unique natural highlight to a home deep in the concrete jungle of Hong Kong. Designed by www.absencefromisland.com/
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#smallapartment #architecture #interiordesign
Project Name: Rattan in Concrete Jungle
Architect: www.absencefromisland.com/
Website www.nevertoosmall.com
Instagram / nvtsmall
Facebook / nvtsmall
Produced by newmac.co
Creator: Colin Chee
Director: Alan Leung
Camera: Chung Dha Lam
Soundman: Dicky Wong
Producer: Lindsay Barnard
Editor: Colin Chee
Music: The Long Wait by Dear Gravity
Arlist.io 
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"With good design, we are telling young people that they should be hopeful and they do not need to sacrifice their living standard even though the spaces are small” 👏🏻👏🏽👏🏿
I really liked when she said that
Me too. People in Hong Kong have gone through so much, and still not giving up on making things better 💕
@@hunterludwig yeah, renovations like this are crazy expensive. Hiring an interior designer to renovate costs like 20% of the condo itself. Ofc, if you do everything yourself you could save some money.
@S H Hong Kong is a city-state. There is no where to move out of unless you emigrate to a completely different country away from your friends and family.
@S H lol you obviously know nothing about hong kong
I love how the designers thought about the baby growing older and needing a desk, that is awesome!
But where is the bed for the kid?
@@niklasdietl7689 Get a futon
Right! All the other apartments are only for foreveralones
idk if I'm being dumb but I don't get where the desk chair would go! and it seems really restraining to have the desk fixed to one place?
@@user-ed7et3pb4o For this kind of desk you do not need chair, you use pillow and your feet go into the hole in the floor.
That magnetic cabinet idea is so clever!
I agree! Why I've never thought of it!
So cute and so clever
agree! it made the wall colorful and not dull.
Can't decide which is the genius 💡 idea: the magnet wall or the roll-out dining table! 🤔 Both are smart solutions! 👍🏼
@@4lf1nf : colorful ? Maybe cluttered.
This is by far one of the best designs. 40 sqm for a family. Only apartments for couples or singles have been featured here before.
Agree!!
Totally agree with you
@Late Notice yes. I have watched every video on their channel! They have another apartment with a couple with one more room for a coming child but it is much bigger.
@Late Notice and one apartment where a couple has 2 children but the parents’ room doesn’t even have a door! So 2 apartments then out of 50 apartments featured on this channel so far? How can I call this? 4%?
Yes, very hopefull for small families to have a small space and good living standards
Woah. This has seriously opened my eyes and made me reassess my own situation. I just realised their entire apartment would fit inside my bedroom. I hoard stuff and I've been allowing myself to feel crowded. I seriously need to make better use of my area! I'm sitting here seeing the space with completely fresh eyes!
It's the first step for you! Stay motivated, start today! 👍🏼🤞✌🏾
if you need even more eye opening material, Vox did a documentary about cage houses in HK. i think there was also a video about construction pipe homes in HK on this channel too. housing in HK is a serious issue unfortunately
I feel the same way! This channel has helped me make a lot of decisions in my upcoming move.
A bit of minimalism would help, check it out!
so I assume you're in the US?
nowhere in the world houses are so oversized... In Central EU 40 square meters is standard home for family with child.
I love how they did like 30/40% of the design thinking on the baby! Thats so sweet!
And when he grows up, he going to have a nice big desk with an awesome view of the city. I’m so jealous!
I guess but it's also just practical. If you have a baby they seem to take up way more than 40% of the time and space. If they can't live there with a baby they'll be miserable or need to move.
@@junbh2 True
My only issue is the steps from the child's bedroom. They are pretty steep and sharp for a toddler, or a sleepy child. Everything else was lovely
Such a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere. Great design. You’ve really made most of limited space. Fitting in two bedrooms will allow the family to stay when the child grows past babyhood.
Woah. The hydraulic table might be one of the coolest things I've seen on this channel. Super unique.
Yeah, but trying to sit on a desk chair on that and then using the desk is not going to end well. You're going to have to lean forward, and because there's no place to rest your feet, it's going to be extremely uncomfortable to try to sit and focus there. I would just opt for something more economic and less over-sophisticated.
@@ithaca_the_enby I think the idea is that you sit on the floor with your legs resting in the space the desk was occupying. Still not entirely ideal for sure, but it's interesting to try something new!
And wait til the kids start playing with that button and the table, could end in disaster!
@@krissmgvlogs I'm sure the parents can keep the remote safe until needed
I'd be afraid to crush my legs even as an adult
This is the first one of these I've seen designed with children and Family Life in mind. Also refreshing to hear that it's for the middle class, as opposed to a luxury pied-à-terre.
I couldn’t agree more. I love NTS but oftentimes it seems out of touch with reality. Not in this case!
More videos like these where small homes for families are showcased please! Such a breath of fresh air :) and a change up in the typically featured singleton/childless couple clientele
Totally agree!
@@RcsN505 it depends...I've always liked the idea of living small but I'm considering a suburban move now just for the value of having a backyard. My region was heavily in lock down for most of the pandemic so there were no children's parks we were even allowed to use. So I can see why now a private outdoor space would be desirable to a family. Kids need to run around in the grass and play.
Cannot believe how well this is done. Incredible.
The architects’ vision to give hope to young people in Hong Kong is amazing and heart warming.
I am loving this apartment design: the bed that leads to window sill reading nook, the lighter shade of upper cabinets, the hideaway dining table.
Such thoughtful designs.
I love the magnet idea. It will feel a lot more personal once the family starts hanging photos and artworks, important things. It's also helpful for day-to-day reminders! I also like how the designers thought of how the child will grow up someday. I see many people building their babies a room, but once they grow up it just seems awkward to sleep in a room made for a baby. Also, the family can live there for a long time, if they choose to.
The architects here did a phenomenal job in the design. I am so impressed.
This apt is like the gift that keeps on giving. At first there's nothing, and then you keep discovering more rooms and furniture. Great work.
i love that the architects don't sound like robots here
This is amazing! So optimistic. I am looking to buy a small apartment for myself and my teenage son after divorce. I felt rather miserable until I came across this series))) I knew that with the money I got from the sale of the former family flat, I needed to sacrifice either proximity to the transport system or the size of the apartment. Now, I am quite confident I can do really well in a smaller space. Thank you
Hope you are having a good one! And have a good life. Add oil!
That’s awesome
At first, it was the juxtaposition of terrazzo tiles and wood veneer that caught my attention. Then it was the magnetic wall. But the hydraulic table blew me away. Such brilliant ideas to maximise space in such a tiny apartment - the pull-out table and plenty of storages in nooks and cranny. Love the use of neutral tones and seamless design feel to it.
Same here (except for that desk)! Excellent look & function! 👍🏼
Fun fact: Hong Kong is the city with the highest housing prices per area in the world, currently averaging at more than 30k USD per square meter.
Wow that means this house is roughly 1.2 million usd, I could get a nice bungalow in a gated community with that amount of cash in my country, or I could even get a small mansion
@@theperson5457 average, so given this one was just redesigned I'd say it's probably closer to 1.5
In Poland, you will buy a single-family house for 2 square meters in Hong Kong
Wow! With 1.2M, I’d rather gtfo from Hong Kong and live like a king in Bali or Bangkok.
@@Rockman-4 he can probably afford it with a job in Hong Kong that he can't find in those places tho
Wow. Hong Kong really is a concrete jungle- almost reminds me of Ghost in the Shell. Great use of natural hues creating a more breathable atmosphere!
Quite a few of the city scenes in the original movie were based on the HK city scape close to the old airport. That's where the author of the book took his inspiration from
@@JansenNg Ah that's great to know! Thanks for the info :)
funny you mentioned that, I was literally just watching it lol
The Ghost in the Shell movie with Scarlett Johansson is actually shot in Hong Kong.
@@sharen0911 that explains a lot haha
They made this space look so much bigger then it actually is. Really well done!
As a New Yorker, a place this size is not considered small and I’ve lived in smaller spaces with a partner. I absolutely love this apartment. The design is pure genius!
Beautiful space! I really liked how the designers referenced things they added, like the magnetic wall for their clients. Really spoke to how well they'd designed the space for their clients needs.
I love how they designed their child’s bedroom, even thinking about the future for their studies; awesome parents!
I live in hong kong and I'm fortunate not to have to share a room, but it's quite small, about 4-5msq. My mom designed the layout when i was about 7 to make sure I'd have a large desk and storage place, so my closet and bookshelves are under a high bed and the rest of the room space is for my desk. Thank god for her wonderful design because I'm doing class in my room all day now so it's amazing that my desk is comfortable to sit at.
Wow, these 2 architects are amazing. They thought of everything the family needs. Love the terrazzo and rattan, and the storage is so good!
This is brilliant ! The only thing I would add is maybe a mirror on the wall in kitchen to make it feel a bit bigger.
There's so many smart ideas in this apartment like the magnet and the desk !
Or a mirror on the ceiling, so the white cupboards reflect
Considering Feng Sui it isn't suited to have mirrors in some places.
Might get a little dirty/scuffed/scratched in a small kitchen like that, with people rubbing against it and things being cooked. Not to mention it'd really draw attention to the wall if you were standing in there.
@@tinekejoldersma Oh, no idea about that... interesting
@@GriffenDoesIt True ! That's probably why I am not an architect haha
I love the kitchen table idea. Usually hide away/fold away tables are flimsy and not level.
We have a 80cm Bierzelt-Garnitur. It isn't flimsy, too. But it is heavy and not easy to lift.
It's crazy seeing how people live in other parts of the world. My downstairs den which I'm using as an office is bigger than this entire apartment. That's just crazy to me. It's also a bit of inspiration for me to minimize...seeing these minimal spaces and then looking around at how much junk I've accumulated just because I have the space for it is a bit eye-opening.
this is one of the best videos featured. actually takes into consideration a family and has a cozy aesthetic
I know right? One of the best video from nevertoosmall. This is actually give me hope in the future as asian in a city with ridiculous mortage's price
love the light wood and use of rattan! usually rattan would be chairs, couch/bench or other heavy/bigger furniture but in this unit, it added to the lighter and warmer feel of the place.
also love the lack of protruding door, drawer and cabinet handles! makes the space look streamlined and more compact and neat
By far my absolute favourite NEVER TOO SMALL space!
Hello to those who are patiently waiting for NTS videos (almost) every week!
Cheers!
There's so much though put in every single corner - it's amazing! I *love* the colors and overall vibes!
They nailed it!
applause for the designers and the clients as well! they know exactly what they want and that's why the result is beautifully done!
as a people living in HK, it is the most useful and warm home I have ever seen!! most of us have way too much stuff
Excellent design, I love the raised bedroom floor and the remote control desk. The under floor storage is deep and very useful. The dining table is clever, but it could have been done as a whole pull out table on wheels, set into the wall of cabinets as a silhouette. That way the banquettes can be used as seating too. The main bedroom with the padded window seat looks so comfortable and cosy, good to use as a baby bed too, while the baby is so small. The storage is phenomenal. Having a place for large items like suitcases and strollers is a major bonus. You always seem to be tripping over them otherwise.
Love how despite the limited space, they still make space for guests to put on their shoes at the entrance. And no dishwashers and none of those induction stoves either, but a full size gas stove. that's how we Asians roll, baby! 💟💟💟💟
I'm not a fan of closed kitchen area (in general), but it works here.
Agree here, but I also know they do this because asian cooking includes a lot of stir fry and layers of grease can get everywhere. So they keep the kitchen away from the living room on purpose.
As an Asian, I love this kitchen design. Let me cook, curry, fish and fried stuff without stinking up the whole place.
It comes to how and what each culture cooks. Period.
@@xtinafusco true true
@@jesse113553 true. Especially for such a small space, the grease can go to the whole flat
Love seeing hong kong featured!
The UX in designing this is excellent. Thinking about the family's needs in the now and future, and designing for the best experience possible in a small space is really awesome. I love it!
An absolutely magical use of space! ! !
This entire solution is really clever!!! Wood rattan and terrazzo... Wise organic choice.
The thing I am most blown away is to use a rattan to cover the air condition unit... Genius
Sara Nena DIY
There are so many creative and great designs for small apartments in Hong Kong. The one in this video is about the average size in Hong Kong. Many of the new built ones are even smaller, just a bit bigger than the size of a parking lot, and designers can still find ways to make it look quite good and able to fulfill most of the requirements for living.
The designers in HK deserve respects.
anyway, to be honest, as I grown up in a home nearly the same size as this one, I personally never considered my home small until i discovered this channel 😂
This is easily one of the best units shown on this channel. Amazing!
This is the most reasonable and beautiful design among all the small/tiny houses in Hong Kong I have ever seen.
This is the best one I've seen! I got goosebumps. Most interior designers and tiny home owners prioritize the aesthetic over functionality, so seeing SO much storage space and multi-functional elements was EXTREMELY gratifying! This is the type of space I want to live in. Kudos to these amazing architects.
Wow that seamless feature is absolutely brilliant
Best on the channel so far! Wonderful work ❤️
This is a truly livable arrangement, many of these stow and fold apartments are a mess when any one element is in use. They could (and will) leave the table out and it doesn’t ruin the space.
0:19 what I understand: “there’s the client, the wife, and baby man”
What subtitles say: “there’s the client, the wife, and baby man”
My mind is now in an endless loop switching between the baby from the movie boss baby, and a tiny bearded Silvester Stallone in diapers
Someone seems to have fixed the closed captions, it says Manus now 😌 My mind cinema can close its curtains again
hong kong apartment designs are by far the most creative and efficient use of space. i always enjoy watching hk renovation projects
I've seen lots of apartment renovations on this channel, and by far this is my favorite! I really love that they prepare the room for the baby when he grows up. And that magnetic board is so creative and lovely imo!
This is brilliant! The hydraulic desk integrated in the floor storage is groundbreaking for small spaces!!!
that hydraulic desk and magnetic wall made me so excited!! the architects did a brilliant job with this one, I would absolutely love to live here. definitely my favorite tiny home you've featured on this channel
I really do appreciate what the designers did to this apartment, I've seen lots of video about the concrete jungle of Hong Kong, and this is the best thing I've seen so far. Thank you. 💕
Really, really clever -- and I particularly like how functionality was prioritized without losing aesthetic clarity. Tuck-away furniture (like the table) only work IRL if quick and easy, and preferably something you can pull out and set up with one hand and in one or two movements, and kitchens and bedrooms need separation to be viable for long-term family living. As much as I wince at the lack of kitchen and the general realities of living in large cities like this, I can only applaud the great use of available space and light.
Yes, finally... Early for one of your videos... The apartments always look so nice!!
My absolute favourite episode. All spaces are well-utilized, practical, child-proof, and innovative. I would prefer this over a pretty apartment with furniture that are just for aesthetics.
I know they're going to cherish their kid so much and, so much thought for their upcoming child. I wish this family all the best!
This is the best for a family. I mean it, good job!
So many clever ideas, and a great deal of thoughtfulness. Well done to the architects.
Lol this baby has a better view than I have in my office after 7 years of work and it's not even born yet
So proud to see Hong Kong design featured!
This channel makes me happy. After a crazy work day, I watch a few of these videos for inspiration and to unwind.
This is the best episode of the series.
Love the hidden magnetic board. This appartment is beautiful
Very creative. A well designed small space.
Love the separate room for the kitchen! Makes it feel much more family oriented, especially for younger families! I'm impressed, it's a fully functional micro family apartment.
Really glad to see you guys feature a working family's home instead of a second home or airbnb!
Aesthetically I could live here, monetarily not so much. Beautiful finishes.
By far one of my favorite never too small videos
I love how all these videos just make me feel so relaxed and inspired. This wonderful work that these architects are doing turning spaces into homes for their clients.
Love the terrazzo! Light coloured terrazo that plays well with blonde woods and rose tones have become my big favourite.
5:23 What a magical scene... I can totally imagine myself working / studying at that desk, looking at this incredible urban view.
This is some great work.
love the subtle background music, makes the whole experience live.
This is the best small apartment I've ever seen! Really fantastic, thank you for that!
See this is how I want my house designed I just don’t know who to talk to or how to start the process but I love the simplicity and minimalistic look and everything is practical. I like entering a space having little to no visual noise it makes me nervous if there is just stuff every where
You yourself can accomplish this by buying inexpensive IKEA wardrobes and painting them in the same color as the room that they're in. Even simply designed pieces like chests of drawers can look smooth and custom if the finish is similar. Buy 2 cans of the same interior paint and keep extra for wall or furniture touch ups, finish the furniture with a matte clear top coat.
I just love everything about this! I understand it must be very difficult to figure out how to maximize the space here when they showed the original apartment layout. They really put their hardwork into designing and renovating. It's amazing.
I love the window seat in the parents bedroom for their child. A welcoming spot for the child to relax and feel loved.
I love the conclusion « give hope to young couples », very inspiring
WELCOME TO HK! 歡迎來到香港!
I always wonder what the budget of these type of make overs are!
So do I! Yet the real eye-opener is what that place is now worth!
This one will most likely be at least 100k usd
@@haroldlauhoyan someone said the average sqm price vs 30 000 usd in Hong Kong, soo you probably need to add another zero
@@arvidjohansson3120 my number is just including the make over, not including the flat itself, i live in hk btw
Most of the interior design firms here in HK asks their clients to budget around 1000hkd per square feet. Excluding cost of materials and outlets counts.
A lot of these architect's tiny homes are inspiring, but this one is extraordinary.
definitely top 3 design featured in this channel. Looks good, super functional, and very intuitive.
Super job, concept and design. I agree the magneticwall looking like wooden cabinet is fab. Also the swing out table.
Georgina (Ireland)
The swing-out table will be more durable than some fold-down tables I've seen that lack firm support.
Really enjoyed this episode! I would love it if you guys keep looking at designs in Asian countries
I’m totally addicted to these videos! keep up the good work!
This is all anyone would ever need the design and the details in this apartment are splendid!!
the raiseable desk in the floor is an incredibly nice idea tho
but how do you sit at the desk? your chair's front legs would fall in the hole!
@@ThatsCrazyDave it's designed to sit on your bum
Yeah, I really liked the idea
@@julianeisenbach9974 OOHH man me big dumb dumb
An advice from a home organizer.
A room with ONLY floor storage is not a good idea, it's quite troublesome to take out the storage, which means you have to pack your bed + pillows + blankets every morning and take them out every night.
Due to the super moist weather in spring and summer (esp. this district is at the seaside), when hiding your pillow and blanket in the storage means that these items will be unable to dry off nicely.
If you leave the bed there, whenever you have to take something out of the storage, you have to clear your bed. Under-bed or under-floor storage should only store something you will only take it out once or twice a year, such as winter clothings, blankets, briefcase, etc.
Also, Hong Kong's apartment usually only have 2.4 metre height, adding floor storage make the room look "short" of height and people may even feel psychologically pressured since the ceiling is the way too close to the head.
Yeah, this was the one thing I didn't like!
I think that storage is extra storage, not for every day use. They will most likely add a wardrobe or credenza with the child's clothes, as well as a baby bed and nursing chair or cushions for the mother. Also, if I remember correctly, they had a western double bed in their room, not a futon style bed, so probably, they'll get a single bed for the child when he or she is not a baby anymore and they'll put it on top of the floor storage and just keep it there instead of rolling in and out the mattress and blankets every day. I think that room has not been lived in yet. There are no decorations. They will most likely cover the under floor storage and hydraulic table for the first few years of the child's life. Bringing up the table only when the child reaches school age.
One of the best so far, brilliant ideas and no plain plywood !
The kitchen is so tiny that it wasn't possible to get any shots from inside. Amazing .
great design but for me i would want more colorful specially in the baby's bedroom
This 40 sqm apartment probably cost a million USD pre renovation.
This is incredible, thoughtful design. The amount of storage is amazing. Love the window seat, dining table. Actually, I love everything. Really creative solutions.
Such a clever, timeless design! It really impresses me how architects devise such smart solutions for spaces that would have surrendered to clutter for their small size. It's a lesson on how to live comfortably yet unpretentiously. Congrats!
Love it but terrazzo is a nightmare if not properly looked after
What isn't.....? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
It's attractive and as durable as the building itself! It's a great choice! ✌🏼
its most likely a vitrified terrazzo tile. So very resilient unlike actual concrete set terrazzo..it's not porous, doesn't stain etc. etc. You get really incredible ones these days which look like the real thing and not printed and are full bodied.
Cool, but indoor plants are missed in this "concrete jungle".
That living room table is the only example of folding furniture that seems practical that I've seen very well done
Beautiful. So thoughtful and you can see the love and passion in the the architects.