Need studio/apartment for 15 days in HK

JKR — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 00:05:14 +0000

hi my husband and I are coming for a 15 day visit from 28 Oct to 12 Nov 2010 need to rent studio or apartment preferrable in Casueway Bay or Wanchai districts with internet access. Can anyone help?

Bay windows: Begone!

mrb — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 01:00:00 +0000

A couple of things have come to bug me about Hong Kong apartments. First, they're built to catch as many rays of sunshine as possible. Second, the quoted floor-areas bear little relation to how much usable space you'll actually get.

Ten bonus points if you can guess the common cause of both bugs.

'Bay windows' you answer? Full marks, take the rest of the day off!

First, the bay window's role in making confusing floor-area measurements...

If you've bought or rented a flat in Hong Kong, you've quickly realised (if this is news to you, sorry!) that the quoted floor area is useless until you know the 'efficiency'. So if estate agent tells you 'this flat is 800 sq ft, with a 75% efficiency', what they mean is you're looking at a 600 sq ft flat.

Since the gross area is the figure that is quoted publicly (estate agent windows, developers' websites, etc), it makes comparing different buildings a hassle. You can't really compare them until you've got the efficiency from the agent, and done the quick calculation to find the net, usable space.

In the above example, the 'missing' 200 sq ft is made up of your share of public areas, and the area of any bay windows in your apartment. Bay windows are common in older UK houses, but there the bay area runs from floor to ceiling, meaning you really get extra floor space. Here in Hong Kong a bay window starts a couple of feet from the floor, and ends a couple of feet below the ceiling. So you get a big window ledge, but certainly no more floor space.

Now I have in mind that bay windows are so common because the developers (the people that build the high-rise apartments in the first place) get some benefit from them. Can anyone point me at any documentation that confirms this? Since everyone that buys or rents a flat is only interested in net values, I don't understand why we all have to put up with gross areas.

The other problem with bay windows is that they stick out of the building to catch every ray of sunshine. If you look at old buildings, some sort of veranda was common, shading the windows and helping to keep the interior cool. Ok, verandas aren't likely on the 40th floor, but keeping the window flat to the wall will be cooler than having a bay window. And a simple ledge above a flat window to provide shade will keep it cooler still. Cooler flats mean less aircon, and lower energy consumption.

If any architects are reading this, I'm sure it is nothing new or exciting. But can you explain why we don't do it?

Can't we start using net values when quoting floor areas? Especially if that takes away the incentive for developers to stick bay windows on new apartment buildings, and so save energy for all.

Short stay accomodation / visiting HK with a toddler

haklh — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:29:53 +0000

Hi All, I would be grateful for any tips and info on coming to HK for a short visit with a toddler.

I am planning a family trip (3 adults and 1 20-month old toddler) to HK in October. It's only a short stay of one week.

I am trying to find a 2-3 bedroom furnished apartment, but most serviced apartment places require a 1-month minimum. The only place I can find so far is Olympic Terrace. Does anyone know anywhere else? I have looked on moveandstay.com and no luck there at this stage.

I would definitely prefer a place in the Wanchai / Causeway Bay area because I am already familiar with these areas...

Also, my experience from past visits suggest that HK is not a very pushchair-friendly place (lots of steps, narrow paths and aisles). Is this concern justified? Any tips on surviving a trip with a toddler who will need a lot of carrying around?

Batgung - accomodation

Need studio/apartment for 15 days in HK

Bay windows: Begone!

Short stay accomodation / visiting HK with a toddler