ida & billy links two hong kong houses with glass bridge

ida & billy links two hong kong houses with glass bridge
(above) the middle garden and the water-flow stretch the full depth of the site, forming the focus of the two houses
all images courtesy of ida & billy

hong kong-based firm ida & billy architects have linked two existing houses of different ages and styles as one, spatially, aesthetically, and spiritually, while keeping their identity of belonging to different generations. the major challenge they faced was that the houses were segregated horizontally by the existing long swimming pool, and vertically by a three-meter level change between their living room floors. the landscape plinths were demolished and a generous middle garden was stretched through the site’s depth. the swimming pool, will all its enclosing walls taken down, overflows to form a backdrop for the garden.

a steel bridge links up the two houses, floating above the middle garden

a new steel bridge that floats above the middle garden was added to connect the houses at the second level. this daily meeting path, together with the yard and the pool are the new focus of the house. the dwelling’s original marble cladding was stripped off and replaced with white paint and big rectangular windows. timber parapet-tops add highlights to the neutral color, together with the tree’s green.

the swimming pool water overflows gently down the black stone, forming a living pattern of water and reflections

inside, the first floor is expressed as the ground datum, with a light-grey stone flooring that extends to the landscape, with its flowing water that acts as a background for the dining room. timber steps lead to the intimate home datum, where the parent’s house has a serene brown timber flooring while the kid’s has a lively yellowish one. the staircases are expressed as a gallery of form and light. the existing structure was manipulated with new balconies and window openings to form continuous lines. the skylights were designed to hide the glass frames and to blur the boundary between the inside and outside.

the flowing water through the big window forms a backdrop for dining

the ground space is laid with light grey stone extending to the garden

on the upper levels, the two houses overlook each other and are linked up by the bridge

stairs are manipulated as a sculpture connecting all the levels

natural light flushes the hallway from above, giving a time dimension to the interior environment

the penthouse is topped with plank concrete slab, tying back to nature, and to the fence wall of first encounter

stairs are expressed as a gallery of form and light, tailor-made handrails emphasize sense of touching and grabbing

wall and ceiling form continuous lines leading from the parapet to the sky, and wrap the balcony under the skylight 

the skylights are designed to hide the glass frames, to blur the boundary between inside and outside

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