Located in Wan Chai, the concept flagship store House of Madison, Hong Kong has opened and presents a dynamic gallery and social space dedicated to home furnishings and iconic lifestyle brands.

Interdisciplinary architecture and interior design practice, via. has conceived a modern townhouse over two levels with a design that references historic Chinese shophouses. The showroom interior is the epitome of luxury and there are grand architectural features such as a stone stairway that affords access between the two-level store.

The design practice, via. was founded in Hong Kong in 2009 by Frank Leung. Renowned for residential, commercial and hospitality projects in Hong Kong, House of Madison is the latest to be added to the burgeoning portfolio. Leung and his team have re-imagined the interior of House of Madison to explore the intersection of design and culture and showcase products from such European brands such as bulthaup, Rimadesio, Wittman, Viabizzuno and Sub-Zero and Wolf.

With more than 460 square metres of showroom floor via. has created a spatial flow that allows for ever-changing interior scenes and curates the exploration of the interior.

The main entrance opens into an interior courtyard on the ground floor and, beyond this, ‘The Gallery’ has been designed as an experimental platform with curated lifestyle and designer products. There is a sculptural staircase of beige limestone and hairline bronze balustrades, and this leads to a large platform that can be easily transformed into a stage for public forums with stepped seating for an audience.

A double-height arch draws the eye upwards to the first level where the 370- square-metre floor has been designed to re-interpret the idea of a residential penthouse. Here there are defined areas that are both interactive and private. The interactive areas consist of ‘The Kokoro Room’, an open bar and dining area featuring dark and light timber; ‘The Meraki Kitchen’ where premium culinary brands sit within an expansive kitchen space; and ‘The Lookout’ a conversation nook with a view of the outdoor piazza. These three areas have been situated aside a vast picture window and ensures ample natural light penetrates the interior. Again the arch has been employed and bronze mesh incorporated into the design for softness but also to add a certain mystic to the visual experience.

The private spaces have been designed with floor-to-ceiling glass panels and sliding screens that separate two enclosed areas, ‘The Dressing Room’, a Rimadesio walk in wardrobe and ‘Studio M’, a private dining room that adjoins a kitchen to become a material atelier. Outside ‘The Glass Lounge’ features relaxed seating, sculptures, instruments and books and the Kvadrat fabric-lined walls, concrete and timber finishes and diffused lighting combine to present a sophisticated and intimate shopping experience.

Throughout there are furniture collections and product groupings to entice and delight the visitor but it is the sophisticated residential feel of the interior that sets House of Madison aside from its peers. This is a place to explore and discover, a destination that offers an expertly curated experience where design and style are perfectly at home.

Photography by Lit Ma, courtesy of via.