A 395 sq ft Sheung Wan flat gets a modern monochrome facelift
Rooftop apartment has all the charm of a classic walk-up without the hassle
Text Jane Steer / Photography Denise Hough
Near Man Mo Temple, just up from Hollywood Road, is a quiet residential area that is fast becoming one of Hong Kong's most fashionable neighbourhoods. Wisps of incense smoke from the 19th-century temple eddy up the streets, where decaying walk-ups are being artfully restored, cha chaan teng are giving way to artisan bakeries and old hardware stores and workshops are being transformed into fashion and furniture boutiques (vintage, naturally). Even the graffiti is artistic.
It's urban, but urbanely so. It's edgy, but polished. It's local, but with a booming population of young professionals. In short, it's a pretty great place to live.
In the middle of this area lies a recently renovated apartment that perfectly captures the changing face of Sheung Wan. Situated on the top floor of a 27-storey modern high-rise, with possession of the rooftop, the flat has all the character usually associated with a walk-up, but few of the drawbacks.
"We used to own a walk-up, but we found tenants always left before the lease ended," says the owner of the Sheung Wan flat, a property professional who prefers not to be named. "They loved the apartment, but hated the stairs. So this time around we wanted somewhere with a lift. We looked only at places with a roof or a large terrace, and it had to have character - something to make it stand out."
When she bought it, the property ticked most of her boxes, but it lacked personality. Enter French interior designer Peggy Bels. She specialises in transforming bland Hong Kong flats into contemporary homes with individuality. About half her projects involve terraces.