Balcony dining for two in a Hong Kong flat

The Hong Kong flat balcony is small, usually shared with building services, and frequently written off as a utility space. Drawn properly it becomes a genuine room.

Measure around the services

The condenser unit, the drain and the laundry pole are fixed. We measure their real positions and build around them rather than pretending they are not there — often screening the condenser with a slatted panel that doubles as a plant shelf.

A folding wall table

A 700 x 500mm top hinged from the balustrade or wall, folding flat when not in use, seats two and disappears when the laundry comes out.

Chairs that stack or fold flat

Two chairs that fold to 80mm and hang on a wall bracket keep the balcony usable for its other jobs.

Guard against the wind

Above the tenth floor, anything unweighted will move. We keep balcony pieces low, wide-footed and light enough to bring inside quickly.

Green it

A narrow planter built into the balustrade line at 200mm deep gives the screening and softness that makes a small balcony feel like part of the home rather than a service ledge.