How They Pulled It Off: A Prefab Curved Wall Creates Clever Storage

Welcome to How They Pulled It Off, where we take a close look at one particularly challenging aspect of a home design and get the nitty-gritty details about how it became a reality.

Space in Hong Kong comes at a premium. In fact, the city has some of the smallest floor plans in the world, with half of its residents squeezing into 500 square feet or less. For one family, who had lived in their home for a decade, growing clutter and a newborn made their once-loved upscale apartment with breathtaking ocean views no longer practical or peaceful. Instead of undergoing a full renovation or moving, they decided it was time for a transformation. Their goal? To create a home that embraced form, function, and serenity while being welcoming and nurturing for the baby—all for under $100,000.

Enter New York-based designer Adrian Chan, whose previous Hong Kong projects and artistic sensibilities were intriguing. The client, C. So, an artist herself, admired how natural and seamless his designs were, especially when it came to small spaces. "In Hong Kong, it’s difficult to find innovative masterpieces that meet multiple functional needs," says C.

She knew he could offer a solution that would clear the chaos and symbolize this next stage in their lives. One of the first considerations for the redesign was storage.

"Architects in Hong Kong don’t allow for storage space," says Adrian. "In the U.S., there’s always storage no matter how small the space is. There, you have to be creative and flexible with how you make storage."

The plan began with an extensive audit of everything from coats to pants to baby toys, cooking spices, and more, plus a projection of what they’ll purchase over the 10 years. What will they accumulate? What items need to be accessed on a daily basis and what things don’t? Proximity, seasonality, and more played a key role in the final design.

Over the span of seven to eight months, Adrian cleverly carved out storage where there once was none, through an undulating wooden wall connecting the living room to the primary bedroom—something C. found "unique in providing a level of unity and harmony." The curvilinear form of the wood veneer walls elevated the home and acted as a visual connection throughout each space.