When I was growing up in Hong Kong, residential buildings - including so-called high-end developments - were typically designed in a formulaic way by local architectural firms. When the Hong Kong developer Swire Properties commissioned the office to design a multi-family residential development, we were afforded an opportunity to make a unique contribution to the skyline of my native city with a work of world-class architecture.

Located at mid-level near ‘The Peak’ on Victoria Island, the site (red circle on photo) was one of the few remaining parcels of land on Hong Kong Island remaining undeveloped - it offered a fantastic and unobstructed panoramic view of the famous harbor and Kowloon Peninsula.

Unlike the majority of the high-density residential developments in Hong Kong, there were to be only 12 units developed on the site. Using our usual method of arranging and rearranging colored program blocks, we began the design process by exploring different ways of combining unit types such as duplexes and penthouses so as to give each unit a distinct identity.

We arrived at an arrangement of 2 garden duplexes (orange in model) on the ground level, and 10 ‘super-flats’ of 5,000 square feet each (red in model) in a single tower above. The exact area of these ‘super-flats’ was to vary from the bottom to top to create the best value for the units; the unit on top was to have the largest floor-plate (yellow in model).

The main spaces within each ‘super-flat’, such as the living room, dining room and master bedroom suites were further articulated through the provision of corner windows. As the building rose from the ground, the form and dimensions of each room were to vary to maximize the available view and to give each ‘super-flat’ a unique floor plan. Consequently, the exterior massing evolved to resemble a cluster of more slender towers (model on left). In addition, the floor-to-ceiling glass walls were to open onto a continuous balcony reminiscent of the deck of a boat.

In order to provide maximum flexibility for the interior spaces, the building’s columns were relocated to the exterior, giving the structure an iconic appearance that recalls a bamboo grove in traditional Chinese painting.

The transparency of the exterior was balanced by the introduction of two solid towers at the southeast and southwest corners in order to accommodate the practical requirements of each unit such as the kitchen and the maids’ quarters. The combination of the more sculptural articulation facing the harbor and a utilitarian treatment toward the hillside resulted in a plan configuration reminiscent of the petals of a bauhinia, Hong Kong’s city flower.

The glass façade, the boat-deck balcony and the exterior columns were further refined through the development of a series of study models, eventually evolving into a harmonious whole.

Our final design complimented the dramatic setting of the green hillside and established the project as a new landmark for Hong Kong, and a signature project for the client.

I have not travelled to Hong Kong to visit the building since its completion in 2012. I have, however, heard that the sale prices of the units have set a new record for the city’s real-estate market.

I am pleased to know that our design has fulfilled its goal in delivering spectacular views for the residents and their guests to enjoy.

More importantly, I happy that the public and indeed the market in Hong Kong has finally recognized that good architecture and thoughtful design can serve to improve the value of the final product; and that the Opus Residential project has played a pivotal role in achieving that change.

The Opus Residential project was very much a labor of love from the team - these study models are the testaments of their hard work.