HIGH LIFE

Luxury living reaches new heights at this Hong Kong residence by Cream

Not only is Victoria Peak the highest point in Hong Kong, but it has also long epitomised luxury on the island. The location of architect Antony Chan's newest project, it is close to the city (the Peak Tram delivers passengers from Central in just eight minutes) yet offers rare verdant views. Chan's Hong Kong-based interior architecture studio Cream capitalised on this contrast when it transformed the interior of an existing 2014, four-storey detached house within a covetable private residential enclave using a fresh vision of contemporary living embracing textured finishes and objets d'art. The goal, says Chan, was to create a relaxed and informal home in harmony with its sub-tropical setting.

Chan is known locally as the go-to architect for nuanced, thoughtful, upmarket interiors. His projects are notable for their subtle glamour, achieved through a meticulous layering of patina, character and complexity, their sophisticated use of colour, and their sprinkle of bespoke furniture designs, as well as original art and interiors pieces, often sourced in Paris.

But this 446 sq m home, commissioned by a local developer, is much more than a mix of extraordinary surfaces and items. Here, Chan also brings architectural rigour, re-engineering each floor to create a natural flow that responds to its site. "We wanted to make sure that all elements were practical for a family,' he says.