The Larvotto development provided an acute challenge for the RLP team when designing this premium residential product. The site is located in the Ap Lei Chau area of Hong Kong Island, and has long suffered from a problematic reputation due to noise pollution from the adjacent boatyards. The completed development with its nine residential towers is already an outstanding success, rapidly improving perceptions of the location and creating a new benchmark for high-end residential development in Hong Kong.
Working with the natural geography of the site, RLP designed nine towers of between 25 and 29 storeys lying in a gently-curving linear arrangement along the harbourfront and overlooking the typhoon shelter towards the Ocean Park theme park. While nine towers enjoy waterfront views, noise pollution from the boatyards drove RLP to adopt an innovative approach to the façades, providing non-openable curtain wall glazing for the main frontage – more commonly used in commercial offices – while also giving the majority of apartments dual aspects through the main living space with balconies overlooking the sensitive green backdrop of Yuk Kwai Shan. The towers are positioned above a five-storey podium deck housing the clubhouse and parking, with vehicular and pedestrian access immediately whisking residents up to level one to raise their view above the boatyards.
The apartments increase in both size and quality as one moves from the northern towers to the prime south towers, ranging from 600 square feet studios to 2,500 square feet apartments and 3,900 square feet duplexes on the upper levels. The two southern towers are also angled towards the south to take in the spectacular views of the outlying islands and the South China Sea. RLP included additional design ideas for these two towers – a dramatically-scaled clubhouse and a unique transfer plate design.
While the quality of accommodation was paramount in the design, the impact on the surrounding environment was also a key factor. As such, all towers were clad in low-reflective glass to minimise the glare perceived from the typhoon shelter. Open sky gardens puncture the mid-storeys of all three tower clusters, maintaining views through the development and providing a sense of lightness to the overall development design.
