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Peta Tomlinson

It was architect Arnold Wong Yok-fai’s lucky day when he and his wife, Grace, moved into a harbour-view Tai Hang apartment just before Lunar New Year in 2024.
Watching fireworks from the living room invited good fortune into their home, he says, and the “birth year” of the building – 1989 – was the same as his own, which augurs well, according to feng shui beliefs.
“It was some sort of fate,” says Wong, co-founder of ARTA Architects, whose projects include installations made with recycled glass.
At 620 sq ft, the flat was twice the size of the previous apartment shared by the couple, who had recently welcomed their first child, Alfie.
Wong’s plan was to convert the original three-bedroom, one-bathroom flat into a more practical two-and-a-half-bedroom, two-bathroom home, and he had 80 per cent of the redesign worked out before the final settlement.

Removing a wall between the two largest bedrooms, and cribbing space from a corridor, allowed Wong to tick two must-haves and one would-like-to-have feature on their wish list.
The vastly enlarged space could accommodate an en suite at one end (next to the existing bathroom, so existing plumbing could be used), and at the other, a study for Grace, who runs her marketing business from home. There was still room in between for the couple’s extra-large bed.
“When travelling, my wife and I enjoy staying in luxury hotels,” says Wong. “While our bedroom can’t match the size of those suites, we wanted to recreate their relaxing atmosphere by choosing a super-king bed, and concealing smart controls for lighting and roller blinds on both bedside cabinets.”
A sliding glass screen between the sleeping and office areas allows Grace to work comfortably, without feeling closed-in. Additionally, Wong raised the floor of the study by 35cm to provide horizontal storage.
The new flat also enabled the couple to have a proper dining table for the first time.

“The first meal we had here was with my parents-in-law, sitting at a real dining table facing each other,” says Wong. “In our old place, we all squeezed onto the sofa with a small, low table. I also enjoy having drinks and hosting friends, so the dining room includes a cabinet with my drinks collection and personal items, like my old student architecture models from over 10 years ago.”
Importantly, the room holds Wong’s prized Smeg fridge. He’d first seen the retro beauty at a friend’s housewarming party while living in Amsterdam. “Watching guests at the party grabbing their own drinks, I thought that was a very welcoming fridge,” he says. “I decided then and there that, even as a broke intern, I had to get one, no matter what.”
The two curved portals in the living/dining zone are visually soothing, says Wong.
“In feng shui, a curve with flow of air is better for luck and harmony,” he says. “I also feel curvy design is more organic, close to human nature and nature.”
With the environment, and cost, in mind, Wong avoided unnecessary demolition and landfill, he says. The existing floor was clad with SPC (stone plastic composite) flooring and kitchen cabinetry was simply refaced. Additionally, he used low-VOC paint and installed smart lighting to conserve electricity and ceiling fans to reduce air conditioning.

The principles of sustainability, says Wong, extend from what ARTA Architects “build professionally to how we live personally”. In addition to upcycling waste materials in some of its commercial projects, the company is refining an experimental process to transform waste glass into architectural products, starting with decorative tiles that, they hope, will eventually become a facade material. He concedes, however, that truly sustainable options in the building industry are still limited, and often costly.
“Availability is improving as demand grows and regulations tighten, and brands are responding,” he says. “We expect to see more accessible choices in three to five years.”
Designing his own home came with pros and cons, Wong found.
“Contractors and suppliers give me better deals because they want future projects,” he says. “On the other hand, I tended to overthink every detail. Knowing so many products on the market made picking finishes exhausting. For example, should I go with the Italian marble or the local terrazzo? Mainly, it came down to time and cost in the end.”
Grace agrees that the home they have created is “so much more comfortable” than their previous flat, being both cosy and child friendly.
Despite feeling the same way, Wong is not done yet. “We’ll aim for a bigger home next time, maybe 1,000 sq ft,” he says.
Bedroom/study

Sliding glass panels, from Wilson Art-Glass (724 Shanghai Street, Mong Kok, tel: 2392 1092). Desk, from Ekobor; Setu chair, from Herman Miller. Wall light, through Taobao.
Dining area
Dining table and open shelving, designed by Arnold Wong of ARTA. Donut dining chairs, through Taobao. Smeg fridge, from Arredatutto. Classen Ceramin SPC flooring, from Beauty Floor Engineering.
Living room
Sofa, from Tree. Coffee tables and ceiling lights, through Taobao. Paintings, including (left) Women (2006), by Yayoi Kusama, were gifts.
Main bedroom
Bed, from Sealy. Headboard and side tables, designed by Wong. Wallpaper, from Bolta. Print, through Taobao.
Shower

Tiles in shower, provided by ARTA Architects’ contractor. Kohler hardware, from Arnhold.
Child’s room

Platform bed and ladder, designed by Wong. Shelving, from Ikea. Wallpaper, from Bolta.


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PostMag

Design & Interiors

A Hong Kong architect navigates the challenges and rewards of designing his young family’s first home


A Hong Kong architect navigates the challenges and rewards of designing his young family’s first home.


A family flat in Tai Hang with a luxury hotel twist

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}A Hong Kong architect navigates the challenges and rewards of designing his young family’s first home

A Hong Kong architect navigates the challenges and rewards of designing his young family’s first home