Larvotto: A Contemporary Residential Apartment in Hong Kong

Design by Bean Buro Architects

The main spatial concept of Larvotto revolves around a continuous ribbon-like blue wall that connects all the different areas of the apartment. Starting from the lounge, the blue wall features subtle computer-generated display niches and forms the main circulation space with various shelves for displaying art. It creates an intuitive experience by linking up the lounge with the office and ending its blue color in the bedroom.

Located in a high-rise residential building in Hong Kong Aberdeen, Larvotto takes advantage of its proximity to the Ap Lei Chau shipyard. The apartment is designed with large panoramic windows facing the sea, providing stunning boating sceneries and natural light. This design choice caters to the growing trend of working from home culture, offering a calm and inspiring environment for productivity.

The material palette of Larvotto is calm and refreshing. The tranquil blue color chosen for the continuous blue wall reflects the sea, while the timber finish for the floor and joinery brings warmth to the live and work space. The timber surface is conceptualized as a landscape that rises and falls to provide different functions. It wraps the entry space with full-height hidden storage doors and falls to seat height along the panoramic windows, creating an infinity pool effect and providing informal seating along the bay.

The Larvotto apartment features a bespoke CNC-cut table called the Bean Table. This table acts as a meeting table during the day and transforms into a dining table at night. With its wiggly and playful shape, it adds a touch of creativity and functionality to the lounge area. The apartment also underwent a transformation from a three-bedroom apartment to an open studio apartment by demolishing existing partition walls. This change increased the panoramic window views, allowing the external boating environment to be experienced inside.

Bean Buro Architects started the Larvotto project in April 2013 and completed it in July 2013. The design was driven by the growing culture of working from home and the need for a balanced living space that combines live, work, and play. Overcoming challenges such as non-structural walls and limited visibility, the design team successfully created a flexible and visually stunning apartment.

Larvotto received the Silver A' Design Award in 2015 in the Interior Space, Retail, and Exhibition Design category. This prestigious award recognizes the outstanding expertise and innovation demonstrated by the design. Larvotto's strong technical characteristics, splendid artistic skill, and excellent level of excellence make it a truly remarkable and inspiring residential apartment.