Beau Cloud Apartment

The Narrative: Cascading Flow
Inspired by the external Mid-Levels topography, the concept of the ‘cascade’ is an architectural strategy to create a strata effect; using horizontal forms to smoothen the flow of spaces, allowing an open, comfortable and airy feel for the apartment.

The Process: A Stratified Approach
As every window in the apartment faces the incredible natural greenery sloping towards the peak, the space offered a variety of opportunities to locate the private and social areas. The design process explored different spatial approaches to examine the priorities of views, natural light, room sizes, storage, circulation strategies, and the amount of built-in furniture.

The Solution: A Wrapping Volume
The solution is the creation of a horizontal wrapping volume at the core of the apartment that serves multiple functions. It encases the en suite master bedroom, a semi-open study (that can become a guest room), a guest WC, and a built-in TV unit on its outer face that faces the lounge. The volume horizontally sways from side of the lounge to the other, emphasised by a continuous lighting effect at the low level that relieves the heaviness, forming a characterful front of house space that feels large and generous.

To further accentuate the horizontality of the strata effect, a black datum line is incorporated into the bespoke joinery that runs consistently at the same height throughout most of the apartment. This consistent black datum line occasionally rises up or down to form a small arc, to express its playfulness.
Storage efficiency was part of the brief, bespoke joinery connecting living and dining room allow dense storage. Customised storage in the living room allows the client to store away long snowboarding equipment, mastered room and guest bedroom offer a multitude of spaces, including a large walk-in wardrobe.

The Materials: Neutral & Airy
The interior materiality takes inspiration from the natural surroundings, utilising natural oak flooring in long planks as well as herringbone patterning. The wall finishes are kept simple with off-white paint colours. A full-height drinks bar constructed in brass metal finish is created between the dining area and lounge. The dining table is also tailor-made in high-quality timber and stone top, with brass metal details.

Wellbeing: Human and Pet Comfort
The design provided a very comfortable reading corner for the lady of a house, with a hanging swing chair for relaxation with a good external view. The reading space is filled with natural light, with plain gallery walls ready for displaying photography artworks. A sleeping area is designed for the family dog, and various horizontal platforms designated for the dog to relax and play. The open kitchen can be enclosed with sliding partitions during cooking, but it is left open for most of the day, allowing the dog to roam around the apartment in the day.

Design: Bean Buro
Design Team: Lorène Faure, Kenny Kinugasa-Tsui, Kirk Kwok, Jay Jordan
Contractor: Chi Kwok Decorations Co.
Photography: courtesy of Bean Buro