Over the past few decades, Swire Properties has made “Island East” a location as specific as Lan Kwai Fong or Kowloon Tong. Taikoo Shing and Taikoo Place have made the area a neighbourhood, not just the east end of the island. Given the developer’s track record with luxury and mass market residences, hotels and offices, and combined with the rental pressures in Central that are making the east end a destination for blue chip multinationals, it’s no wonder serviced living to suit the area finally opened in August: Taikoo Place Apartments.
Placemaking
While not officially a sister property, Taikoo Place Apartments can be seen as the easterly complement to Swire’s Pacific Place Apartments. Though the tower doesn’t cater only to Taikoo Place staff, the sheer volume of businesses and people make it a logical choice for a serviced apartment. Where Pacific Place maintains an old-school, professional sheen — property, banking, finance and so on — Taikoo Place has taken on a decidedly modern edge, best exemplified by the co-working space and tech startup facilitator (blueprint) in Cornwall House.
Located in a waterfront community, Taikoo Place Apartments was designed to blend contemporary demands with traditional business needs. “It complements our existing portfolios in Taikoo Place and enables us to better cater to our office tenants, as well as business travellers, setting a new standard in serviced apartment living in the eastern business district of Hong Kong,” explains Adrian To, residential director of Swire Properties. “In terms of design details and top-notch personalised concierge and security service, [Taikoo Place Apartments] is akin to the successfully branded Pacific Place Apartments.” To expects a broad range of tenants, from Taikoo Place and Cityplaza staff to business travellers and local residents of East Kowloon and other parts of Hong Kong Island.
The immediate vicinity around Taikoo Place has developed into a thriving eastern social hub since the offices moved in; it’s not necessarily going to empty out completely at 6pm on a Friday night. Sitting at the dining nexus that is Tong Chong Street across from Devon House, the Apartments has followed the dining lead and opened up the buzzy Mr & Mrs Fox on its first three floors. With limited service hotels and serviced apartments gaining traction for travellers, one dining outlet can be expected but those properties are sold on their nearby street life. To a degree, To agrees. “The residential and F&B elements at Taikoo Place Apartments complement our existing portfolio … to better serve the community. It will help realise the full potential of Taikoo Place as a commercial hub, setting new standards for business districts in Hong Kong,” he theorises
Design for Life
Walking into Taikoo Place Apartments the first thing you notice is how nice it smells — without overwhelming like the ground floor of Lane Crawford. It feels very much like walking into any of Swire’s newly refurbished addresses. Design details are intensely contemporary without being trendy, and include sound-dampening textured limestone walls and a mushroomy chandelier giving off a delicate light the entire length of the corridor. It leaves the rest of the city behind instantly.
The interiors have come courtesy of New-York based Richardson Sadeki, who Swire have also entrusted with its Mount Parker Residences, Argenta, Arezzo and WHITESANDS show flats. “The interiors … have been designed in an understated palette of warm colour tones,” explains To. “It helps create an atmosphere of modern comfort, with attractive design features including floor-to-ceiling windows that invite in natural light, modern and fully equipped open-kitchens, and stylish custom-designed living room furnishings and décor.”
In addition to the abundant natural light and customised furnishings that maximise space, sliding doors are the order of the day and every bit of floor space has been put to efficient use (larger units even have walk-in closets). Taikoo Place Apartments’ feature soft lighting almost everywhere (there are no glaring overheads here), and novel fabric walls and leather accents in the public spaces add a welcoming, tactile element. Some suites have balcony space and all include state-of-the-art electronics and appliances by Bose, Sony and Siemens, and complimentary WiFi.
Among the 28-storey tower’s amenities are a Siemens’ outfitted laundry room and, most crucially, the residents’ clubhouse. The clubhouse lounge has a distinctly hotel executive lounge vibe, with a touch of homey living room to it. Appointed with the same limestone as in the entrance lobby, natural wood, natural light and grey neutrals complemented by modern purple shades, the clubhouse is relaxing but energising. Beyond more full-length windows is the terrace and adjoining kitchen for outdoor dining and entertaining. The terrace looks down at Tong Chong Street, but the street doesn’t impose itself on the terrace. Also part of the clubhouse is a personal use spa inspired by a traditional Hamman with a steam room (with individual/couple’s room and a larger space for up to five) as well as a 24-hour gym.
Apartments range in size from 477 to 735 square feet for the 103 studio and one-bedroom suites; six two-bedroom suites measure 1,220 square feet; two penthouse units measure 1,220 and 1,610 square feet. Rental rates at Taikoo Place Apartments begin at $28,000 per month for minimum one-month stays. For more details refer to www.taikooplaceapartments.com.hk.
