Extreme transformer home in Hong Kong: Gary Chang's 24 rooms in 1

Summary

The speaker shares their innovative approach to living in a small, flexible apartment in Hong Kong, where every space serves multiple purposes. With movable walls and compact, multifunctional furniture, they maximize the limited 360 square feet, turning their home into a dynamic, adaptable environment. Their design philosophy emphasizes organic, user-friendly solutions and the importance of efficient use of space. The speaker also discusses the balance between private home living and enjoying the city, suggesting that the city itself should be seen as an extension of one's home, minimizing the need for excessive personal space.

Takeaways

• 😀 Hong Kong's housing market is extremely expensive, with apartment prices surpassing even Paris in some cases.
• 😀 The average living space for most families in Hong Kong is about 600 square feet, with some families living in subdivided apartments.
• 😀 The speaker's home is only 360 square feet but has been creatively adapted to accommodate a family of multiple members over 40 years.
• 😀 The design of the home allows for flexibility, with walls on tracks that can be moved to change the layout depending on need.
• 😀 The home features a kitchen that can disappear when not in use, optimizing space in the small apartment.
• 😀 The laundry room is designed to be compact and functional, disappearing when not in use, making it user-friendly and efficient.
• 😀 Despite the small space, the home has plenty of storage, and the speaker jokes about having 'too much' storage.
• 😀 The speaker's bathroom includes a spacious shower area, offering a bit of luxury in an otherwise compact space.
• 😀 The home is fully automated, allowing the speaker to control appliances with a mobile device, though the speaker values maintaining some manual control for certain functions.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes that the city's resources should be used to enjoy life outside of the home, advocating for a balance between private living space and the communal experience of the city.

Q & A

Why is living in Hong Kong considered unreasonably expensive?

The cost of living in Hong Kong, particularly housing, is extremely high. The price of apartments is now higher than in cities like Paris. The average space people live in is very small, around 600 square feet, and many families have to live in subdivided apartments, sharing rooms with other families.

What is the living space like in the speaker's home?

The speaker's home is 360 square feet and has been their residence for almost 40 years. It started as a home for their entire family but was later subdivided to accommodate multiple families. The home features movable walls and a space-efficient design.

How does the speaker manage to optimize their limited living space?

The speaker's home utilizes movable walls, allowing the space to adapt to different needs. Rooms like the kitchen and laundry room disappear when not in use, maximizing space efficiency. The design is organic, with elements that can be shifted to provide flexibility.

What makes the speaker's home unique in terms of design?

The design of the speaker's home is based on flexibility and adaptability. For instance, the kitchen and laundry room are designed to disappear when not in use, creating more space. The walls are movable, allowing the layout to change as needed, and the home includes a compact yet functional design that can accommodate a variety of needs.

How does the speaker's home incorporate modern technology?

The speaker's home is fully automated. Many appliances and systems, like lighting and music, can be controlled via mobile devices. However, the speaker values a balance between automation and manual control, preferring to control some systems, like the music, without automation.

What is the purpose of the mirror in the speaker's home?

The mirror serves to hide the busy tracks on the ceiling and reduce the visual clutter. While the reflection effect is a side benefit, the primary purpose is to create a more aesthetically pleasing and calm atmosphere by masking the complex ceiling structure.

Why does the speaker consider the design of their bathroom a luxury?

The bathroom in the speaker's home includes a spacious shower cubicle, which the speaker views as a luxury in a small living space. The larger shower area allows for more freedom of movement compared to typical cramped bathrooms in Hong Kong homes.

How does the speaker manage storage in their compact home?

Despite the small size of the home, the speaker has ample storage space. The home includes many storage areas, although the speaker admits to sometimes having too much storage. The storage design is carefully planned to ensure everything has its place.

What role does the speaker's home play in their lifestyle?

The speaker views their home as a personal space for experimentation and improvement. Over 40 years, the home has evolved to suit their needs and lifestyle, from being a family home to a flexible, multi-functional space. The speaker also believes that life in the city should extend beyond the home, and the city itself should feel like a part of their living experience.

What are the speaker's views on the concept of 'luxury' in Hong Kong living?

For the speaker, 'luxury' is not necessarily about having a large space but about creating efficiency and comfort within a small area. The speaker emphasizes that having empty space, like the 180 square feet of unused area in their home, is a luxury in Hong Kong, where most people have to make do with cramped living conditions.