4N Design Architects have transformed a post-war building on Wellington Street, Central, into a contemporary commercial and residential block that brings variety to the urban fabric of the area. 53W is a 350-square-metre, five-storey commercial and residential block that was completed in the 1960s, and by attaching an aluminium façade to the old concrete structure, 4N Design Architects have given it new life.

“The original building was built after the war, and it was hard to distinguish any special character. We see this lack of character as an opportunity for us to introduce a contemporary outlook to the building,” says Danny Ng, Principal at the design firm.

The aluminum exterior they used to add character consists of an overall grey metal frame, inside of which is a system of red perforated louvers framed by wood-faced aluminum borders. Ng’s team chose aluminium for the façade due to its lightweight and durable nature. The red louvers, meanwhile, are perforated to allow light and shadows to interplay inside the building. Between the old façade and the new aluminum veil, there is a cavity that enables signage to be installed if needed.

53W’s aluminium facade and red louvers create an impact on Wellington Street

The new exterior of 53W is in striking contrast with the dilapidated exteriors of the buildings around it. “We came up with a bold design because we did not want to be confined by the old façade,” says Ng. “The transformed building also relates to the commercial buildings on Lyndhurst Terrace, which the building faces,” he adds, noting that the building addresses the context of Central as a commercial district.

4N Design Architects also transformed the interior of the building by introducing new materials to the main staircase of the old structure. The designers covered the walls of the internal circulation space, which connects the five floors, with a wavy metal mesh that creates fluidity. They lit the grey-tiled staircase with light strips that highlight the steps and the railings built into the metal mesh wall.

In motion: the metal detailing on the walls adds visual interest and gives the staircase a certain dynamism

The colour grey carries throughout the interiors of 53W – a choice that was inspired by the atmosphere of the nail salon on the first floor of the building. The designers also introduced timber, in the form of the staircase railing. This contrasts with the original black iron balustrade and introduces a tactile quality to the space. “The interior is not necessarily futuristic,” explains Ng. “We wanted to bring a contemporary feeling to this old building.”

Up close: the timber balustrade on the staircase at 53W

53W was completed in March 2015, after eight months of construction. Ng hopes Hong Kong will have more preservation projects in future. “It is true that the original functions of old buildings may not be suitable for the contemporary era, but it is better to preserve the buildings first and think about what to do with them – whether to give them new functions, or new styles. We can find solutions that suit them.”

Established in 2009, 4N Design Architects is a Hong Kong-based design studio that specialises in architectural design, adaptive reuse building design and commercial interior design.

4N Design Architects
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