How to cram a dream home into a 309 square foot apartment

Stephy Chung, CNN
Updated 5:34 AM EST, Thu November 8, 2018
Hong Kong is known for its high living costs and small living spaces. According to Mercer's 22nd annual <a href="http://www.mercer.com" target="_blank" target="_blank">Cost of Living Survey</a>, Hong Kong is now the world's most expensive city for expats. The global consulting firm's findings, released this week, cover 209 cities across five continents and compare factors such as housing costs.
Hong Kong is known for its high living costs and small living spaces. According to Mercer's 22nd annual Cost of Living Survey, Hong Kong is now the world's most expensive city for expats. The global consulting firm's findings, released this week, cover 209 cities across five continents and compare factors such as housing costs.
PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Andy Knight and Michelle Tenant are new homeowners in Hong Kong. They recently purchased a 309-sqft apartment in the Asian metropolis.
Andy Knight and Michelle Tenant are new homeowners in Hong Kong. They recently purchased a 309-sqft apartment in the Asian metropolis.
ALEX OGLE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The pair purchased a small one bedroom apartment in one of the city's most expensive districts, Central.
The pair purchased a small one bedroom apartment in one of the city's most expensive districts, Central.
courtesy laab architects
"When Michelle and I decided to buy a place, we were looking for a convenient location," Knight explains.
"When Michelle and I decided to buy a place, we were looking for a convenient location," Knight explains.
courtesy laab architects
They hoped to convert the "cramped" space into a transforming apartment -- one that could fit multiple amenities.
They hoped to convert the "cramped" space into a transforming apartment -- one that could fit multiple amenities.
courtesy laab architects
They commissioned Hong Kong-based LAAB architects to convert the tiny living space into a tech-savvy new home. "We told them what we wanted, and they walked away in shock because they didn't think it was possible. But they made it work, and we stepped back and watched the magic happen," says Knight.
They commissioned Hong Kong-based LAAB architects to convert the tiny living space into a tech-savvy new home. "We told them what we wanted, and they walked away in shock because they didn't think it was possible. But they made it work, and we stepped back and watched the magic happen," says Knight.
courtesy laab architects
"In expensive cities like Hong Kong, every square foot is that much more costly," says Knight. "So we thought, we're better off investing in an efficient transforming refurbishment that could make a small space more liveable."
"In expensive cities like Hong Kong, every square foot is that much more costly," says Knight. "So we thought, we're better off investing in an efficient transforming refurbishment that could make a small space more liveable."
courtesy laab architects
The new design now includes a big kitchen, home cinema, a bathroom fitted with a bathtub, a guest room and also has pet-friendly amenities for the couple's three cats.
The new design now includes a big kitchen, home cinema, a bathroom fitted with a bathtub, a guest room and also has pet-friendly amenities for the couple's three cats.
LAAB Architects/Sootage Visual
The convertible living room space fits eight people comfortably. The couch transforms into a two-tiered seating area, turning the living room into a home cinema.
The convertible living room space fits eight people comfortably. The couch transforms into a two-tiered seating area, turning the living room into a home cinema.
LAAB Architects/Sootage Visual
"There's no one thing that stands on its own, it all works together," Tennant says. "I can't believe they turned a crummy space into somewhere that is this comfortable. It's not big, but it feels big."
"There's no one thing that stands on its own, it all works together," Tennant says. "I can't believe they turned a crummy space into somewhere that is this comfortable. It's not big, but it feels big."
LAAB Architects/Sootage Visual
The space features a large kitchen, which was one of the most important inclusions in the renovated space for Michelle Tennant. "I cook often, so I wanted to have the space for a full-size oven."
The space features a large kitchen, which was one of the most important inclusions in the renovated space for Michelle Tennant. "I cook often, so I wanted to have the space for a full-size oven."
LAAB Architects/Sootage Visual
The architects created furnishings in the house that served multiple purposes. "The idea behind the design is that we divided the space by introducing elements with different functions," says Otto Ng, the design director at LAAB Architects. Here, a wall division doubles as a personal vanity.
The architects created furnishings in the house that served multiple purposes. "The idea behind the design is that we divided the space by introducing elements with different functions," says Otto Ng, the design director at LAAB Architects. Here, a wall division doubles as a personal vanity.
LAAB Architects/Sootage Visual
"Space is a luxury for Hong Kong people, so we thought, let's maximize it," explains Ng.
"Space is a luxury for Hong Kong people, so we thought, let's maximize it," explains Ng.
LAAB Architects/Sootage Visual
Several functions in the home, like lighting and locks, can be controlled from phone apps.
Several functions in the home, like lighting and locks, can be controlled from phone apps.
LAAB Architects/Sootage Visual
"We can decide whether we want to have warm natural light to wake up to or disco lights when we have friends over," says Knight.
"We can decide whether we want to have warm natural light to wake up to or disco lights when we have friends over," says Knight.
LAAB Architects/Sootage Visual
Inside the 309-sqft transformer home

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in March 2016.

Story highlights

One square foot in Hong Kong costs an average of $1,416 USD

LAAB Architects designed a convertible 'transformer' apartment in the city, to maximize space

The 309 square foot flat features a large kitchen, bathtub, cinema and smart gadgets

Hong Kong CNN  — 

Like any first-time homeowners, when Andy Knight and Michelle Tennant began looking for a place to settle in Hong Kong, they had a wish-list in mind.

Between them, their list of amenities included a home cinema, a gym, a large kitchen, a full-sized bathtub, plenty of storage space and the latest smart gadgets.

It was an ambitious checklist, given that the apartment they eventually settled on was a modest 309 square feet (28.7 meters).

But that didn’t stop Knight and Tennant from dreaming big. “We effectively did the math,” explains Knight, of their apartment in Central district.

“The one-million Hong Kong dollars ($128,700 USD) we would have spent for an additional 90 square feet, didn’t give us much size to play with. To get more bang for our buck, we decided to put that money towards a super-efficient refurbishment.”

Convertible spaces

The couple tasked Hong Kong-based firm LAAB Architects to design a convertible ‘transformer’ apartment.

“It felt like mission impossible,” recalls LAAB Design Director Otto Ng, of when he first heard the brief.