A Hong Kong Home Inspired by Japanese Hot Spring Resorts in St Michel Estate, Sha Tin

There are few things more relaxing than indulging in a Japanese hot spring hotel experience.
Drawing inspiration from this idea, the skilled team at am PLUS designed this Sha Tin residence to emulate the essence of a Japanese hot spring resort.

By seamlessly fusing Japanese craftsmanship and traditional elements with natural wood materials, they have created a serene environment similar to that of a forest. The outcome is a home that radiates with the timeless Japanese traditional charm.

Andrew Lam, am PLUS's Creative Director, pointed out: "The homeowners want to be as comfortable and relaxed as they are in a Japanese hot spring hotel when they're at home. To create this atmosphere, we used a large number of solid wood elements and incorporated Japanese shibori, diatomaceous earth and tatami mats in different colours and patterns."

This flat has the advantage of a high ceiling, which is leveraged to separate functional areas with different attributes at different heights, effectively defining each space. Hidden and faux cabinet doors contribute to an aesthetically cohesive and organised look.

The dining room's theme of "sun and mountains'' is brought to life through the use of Japanese-style shoji screens, creating an authentic Japanese-style atmosphere. The use of semi-transparent Japanese paper fiberboard on the dining room window helps filter out the intense sunlight from the west, as well as any distracting outside views. This design softens the sunlight and the natural variations in light and shadow give the space a constantly changing ambiance.

The focal point of the living room is the "roof-shaped sloping ceiling", creating the cosy vibe of a small wooden house nestled in the Japanese countryside. The rest of the space is paired with simple wooden materials and pure white walls, showcasing elegant Japanese-style texture.

The designers skillfully combined simple wooden materials and pristine white walls to convey an elegant Japanese-style texture throughout the area. A bespoke set of cabinets for audio-visual entertainment is built into the wall for convenient screen projection, transforming the space into a stunning home theatre for the family.

On the opposite side of the living room, the tea room flaunts a sloped wooden ceiling that captivates the eye with its lines. The tea room is adorned with a tatami flooring and built-in seating, showcasing classic Japanese style.

The tea room boasts a suspended wooden platform and seating along with an elegant washi folding door, creating a relaxing environment. When the door is open, the area becomes spacious and open. However, when the door is closed, the tea room transforms into a secluded corner, offering total privacy.

The guest bathroom showcases a bespoke solid wood bathtub imported from Japan, offering the homeowners an indulgent, modern Japanese-style bathing experience.

Both the master bedroom and daughter's room prominently display a cohesive Japanese-themed design, featuring fusuma decoration and sloped ceilings to seamlessly integrate with the overall design.

The master bedroom is divided into different zones, cleverly partitioned by an assortment of Japanese-style sliding doors and half-height glass screens, creating an open yet simultaneously private environment.

The sleeping area is decorated with stunning Japanese woodworking called kumiko, featuring a motif of bamboo forests and mountain ranges. The inclusion of tatami elements in the ceiling offers an intriguing and fascinating textural element to the space.

The daughter's room is cleverly divided into two levels, with the sleeping quarters taking up the upper section. A chic tatami platform graces the lower level, which is connected by a folding ladder. This platform also doubles up as storage space, optimising the organisation of the room. Adding to the aesthetic charm, the lower section's ceiling is decorated with a “starry sky” themed kumiko and lighting design, perfectly capturing the beauty and elegance of Japanese interior design.

The study room uses blue tones to match the silicate wall and wooden desks for a sense of calmness.

Lin Huaming, the Chief Creative Officer of am PLUS, concluded: "This design incorporates traditional Japanese elements such as kumiko craft, speciality ceilings and folding doors to bring out a Japanese atmosphere. Various design ideas and materials are also used to create a vacation atmosphere in the space."

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