Inside the Hong Kong house with columns like tree trunks and a canopy for a ceiling
This capacious home for a multigenerational family that likes to entertain is extravagant yet rooted in nature
It may not be immediately obvious, given the opulence of this multi-generational, two-storey home in the New Territories, but when asked to infuse a contemporary aesthetic into its interiors, designer Hoffman Ho Sai-cheung took inspiration from the surrounding landscape.
Ho, the co-founder, with Elaine Tang Yee-ni, of Seehow Design, was especially captivated by the trees lining the hillside behind the 3,000 sq ft, free-standing house in a private residential development.
“We envisaged a theme of natural elements, focusing on sustainability in materials and technical systems,” says Ho, adding that quality rather than luxury was the intent.
The layout features four bedrooms and four bathrooms plus a guest powder room. The grandparents’ suite is on the ground floor, while the others are on the level above. A double-height void connects the two floors, allowing light from large windows to permeate the home and enhance the airiness of its expansive rooms.
As his design concept took shape, Ho proposed that most loose furniture be by Boca do Lobo, a Portuguese brand known for its contemporary reinterpretations of traditional craftsmanship. Though he had used several of the brand’s pieces before, he knew that furnishing an entire house demanded a deeper look, so he visited Portugal to tour the factory.
Complementing the brand’s designs with Seehow’s custom builds resulted in a unique aesthetic.