Nowadays, the majority of Hong Kong people face housing problems. In recent years, the term “snail’s home” has become popular in describing a tiny living space, symbolizing people curl like a snail’s body while living a depressing life. On the other hand, “tiny flats” are also popular in Japan. With spatial intelligence, the Japanese can create both stylish and practical “tiny flats”. Dr Jackie Kwok, Associate Professor at the PolyU School of Design, will share with us her views on this issue.

1/ Please compare the different mindsets of Hong Kong people and the Japanese in buying a property?

In Hong Kong, a lot of people consider owning a flat an investment. It is believed that quite a number of people own a flat for dwelling as well as investment purposes. Therefore, Hong Kong people usually have considerations on the value of property sales. However, for the Japanese, property is generally for residential use and is part of the necessities of living. In my observation, when the Japanese buy a house for dwelling, very few will consider it an investment. Also, the Japanese usually live in a same house for many years.

2/ Hong Kong people and the Japanese have different concepts about “tiny flats”.  Is it related to their different social backgrounds?

Japan has a system of private ownership of land. That is, when one buys a house in Japan, the land belongs to the house purchaser. Thus, Japanese dwellers can tailor-make and construct their own houses, from the outside to the interior. An architect will usually design the whole house for a single dwelling family. The specially-designed house will not only highlight the homeowner’s favourite style, but will also contain everything needed in such a small space. In Japan, a number of “tiny houses” are built quite interestingly and with style.

In Hong Kong, flat buyers own only the units, but not the land. Therefore, all design can only be constructed inside the flats with quite a number of restrictions. Moreover, a number of people in Hong Kong can only barely afford to rent public housing. Poorer families may even live in dilapidated buildings, bedspace cubicles or partitioned rooms. There is no way that people living in these conditions will care about the design of living space.

In general, Hong Kong people’s concepts and expectations on “tiny flats” are very much different from the Japanese.

3/ Please analyse the feasibility and development of creative “tiny flat” design in Hong Kong.

If “tiny flats” are used to describe relatively small units, rather than poor living conditions, creative “tiny flat” design certainly has the potential and room for development in Hong Kong. In fact, in recent years, many design companies and designers are willing to design small flats for first-time home buyers, making practical use of every inch of their space effectively. There are also television programmes produced to introduce the designs of local small flats, showcasing the interior designers’ innovative design ideas when faced with small living space.