27-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
A family upcycles a 1970s Jardine's Lookout duplex
Sometimes, serendipity smiles. When a long-time expat family were looking to upgrade the Jardine's Lookout apartment they had lived in for years, a 'gem' of a duplex in the same neighbourhood happened to come on the market.
For the family of two professionals and two teenage sons, the 2,150 sq ft, two-level apartment had many advantages: four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a study, plus a rare outdoor terrace.
The main draw, however, was two living areas, one on each level. The ground floor's expansive 540 sq ft social space would be perfect for entertaining while the second-floor lounge could be converted to a library-cum-reading room, tailored to the family's love of books.
Staircase. Photo: Walker Yip
But the property was overdue for a makeover, having been built in the 1970s, with little refurbishment apart from a relatively recent kitchen upgrade. Ian Hau, founder of design and construction firm XLMS, was assigned the task, along with architectural designer Kamila Pioterek.
Hau says the clients were focused on functionality and comfort. 'Their main request was to create a practical home with ample storage,' he says.
Intending to live there long term, the family wanted a 'timeless' decor that would work with their
eclectic collection of vintage furniture , art, books and travel mementos accumulated over the years.
At the same time, the brief from the committed upcyclers called for minimal waste and use of sustainable, natural materials – values that Hau says match the ethos of XLMS, which also offers joinery and furniture-fabrication services.
