Extreme transformer home in Hong Kong: Gary Chang's 24 rooms in 1

Gary Chang has lived in the same 32 square meters (344 square feet) for nearly his entire life. Nearly 40 years ago, he moved into the tiny apartment with not only his parents and 3 younger sisters, but they rented a room to a tenant.
During his childhood the space was divided into several small rooms- kitchen, bathrooms and 3 bedrooms (Chang slept on the couch). In 1988 when his family moved out (into something bigger), Chang bought the place from the landlord for $45,000 and began his experiments in small space design.
Today, at first glance, the small space appears a fairly average open studio, but with pulls on handles, walls slide across steel tracks, Chang can have a "maximum kitchen", a guest bedroom, a library, dining room, laundry-room and even a spa: one walls slides to reveal an extra-large Duravit bathtub.
His home is tricked out with a wall-sized movie screen, a shower with color therapy and massage that doubles as a steam room, but Chang argues that the moving walls are fairly low-tech. And while he can control his appliances with his smartphone he usually prefers the manual option.
Chang is now an architect (Edge Design) with a focus on micro-apartments.
*Cameraman Johnny Sanphillippo also films for the site Strong Towns: www.strongtowns.org/
Gary Chang's Edge Design: www.edgedesign.com.hk
Original story: faircompanies.com/videos/view/...

[@lalakuma9]

It's really cool to see that although the apartment looks very futuristic inside, it's actually in a regular building full of regular apartments, not a luxury building. And he actually grew up living in that room before he upgraded it years later. Really a great example of what you can do with what you already have.

[@luvthylive]

I don't mean to be rude but that was not the point... To do something new with something you already have.. I think it was more saving space and not requiring a lot of it to have all the basic necessities of a home in that small space

[@applegravity14]

Raj Dash ironically, I think you also missed the commenter's point. They meant that it was nice to see that this isn't a whole new luxury apartment that was built to take up even more space. They were impressed that he was able to transform his old home into a space that was efficient.

[@lastlines09]

@ Lala, could not have it said better myself

[@madnessintomagic]

Imagine what he could do if he still had the other two rooms since it was originally a 3 room flat.

[@GodIsLove5bc]

My understanding is it is still the same combined space, just rearranged.

[@beezrow]

Ingenious design, and the mirrors had me fooled that the ceiling was high. Being a lover of good architecture I'm amazed 24 rooms wow!!!

[@madnessintomagic]

J-Bee Burrows Agreed. I really thought the bedroom was up above in a loft by the windows, but that was just the blackness of the ceiling and reflection of the windows. confused me. really special space.

[@OtsileM]

The mirrors do give that illusion of space. For a while I thought the apartment had a window above the window.

[@blueconversechucks]

And two toilets!!

[@pixelbasedlifeforms]

First I thought, well the ceiling is so high, why didn’t he use that space? It made sense when I realized it was a mirror 🙂

[@josephleiss29]

That is possibly the most efficient use of space that I have ever seen. Brilliantly done sir.

[@sshatterhand239]

This is the future for apartment living - this man will be dollar millonar with the right partners

[@LithiumJack]

The orange tint coming in through the window as the projector screen/curtain lifts carries echoes of Blade Runner, anyone else catch that?

[@likeasambud9817]

Its fucking gorgeous. I want to do this to my windows.

[@pk2702pk]

Completely agree. I want my apartment like this, LOVE it!

[@fodinski1]

I was going to comment exactly thst

[@Menhikatu005]

I was going to write the same thing! Is that a tint or pollution from China! I live in Japan and we often get lovely golden sunsets thanks to China’s yellow sand pollution! 😜

[@FranFerioli]

Blade runner meets Wong Kar-wai

[@TheSehaa]

Imagine not remembering where you put your cellphone

[@impumagirl]

Or your shower LOL

[@aohige]

*calls your phone* "I can hear the phone ringing out of a wall but can't tell which one!!"

[@marilynwillett804]

have someone call you. ever think of that?

[@h2x261]

Hhhahhahahahah

[@bt7846]

@@marilynwillett804 How exactly??

[@w.a.watson3078]

This is not clutter. Everything has it's space. It's very well organized, chic, futuristic, and beautiful.

[@Dev1nci]

I love this on SO many levels. The only foreseeable problem is imagine the nervous breakdown you'll have when you misplace something and have to rearrange each room to find it! But very very good design.

[@largol33t1]

Three words: Bluetooth keychain beeper!

[@Dev1nci]

Another three: On every item.

[@jordi0m]

When you live in a space this intentional I don't think you ever misplace anything.

[@martymaloney1032]

Someone who builds something like this isn’t the type to misplace anything.

[@strugglingcollegestudent]

That would be me every day

[@DayOldMeat]

If I had the money, I'd hire this guy to build homes. It's an elegant solution to the urban space problem, better than just shrinking the size of rooms in apartments. It would be perfect for rehabilitating the homeless as well.

[@marilynwillett804]

elegant? nothing nonexistent is elegant.

[@bt7846]

Urban space problem?? How about using condoms?!

[@martymaloney1032]

B TT but then you wouldn’t be here if your parents had complied.😎

[@jeus_saaa]

@@martymaloney1032 and now the boomers blame pollution, overpopulation, rising prices, and depleting resources to the youth. A lot of people would wish they were never born if that's what they're gonna leave us with

[@madnessintomagic]

Not a boomer, but overpopulation IS the problem. The primary problem and cause of most if not all our problems.

[@matthewrreis]

I've watched this video a few times now over the past year and I am continually amazed at the new innovations and space-savings ideas I spot. The open floor plan, when all the modular shelving is collapsed, makes the space feel like a proper house. The tinted windows liven up the space and that shower! Wow I want one.

[@MrRayne90]

I like his idea to transform a space with lesser movements, like moving / folding furnitures, to store them a place.

[@alishanmao]

wow a great use of such small space.

[@MrZero-tn4uc]

A great use to waste money, themoveable cabinet its ok but yeah it wont last

[@lateesleeper]

the walk-in closet and bathtub won my heart x"D

[@barbarawolfsong6967]

This was the most amazing small space design and my favorite. I love the hanging movable walls. I wish we could see how he designed them and learn a little bit more about how it works. It almost seems like magic.

[@Msabeaniebaby]

I love the mentality: your city is your home, not just your apartment. The design is fabulous. I want to hide my kitchen when I'm done cooking. Same goes for laundry (well, I currently don't have a laundry room, but if I did...). Truly brilliant design.

[@Zye]

that last sentence made all introverts cry i bit inside

[@martymaloney1032]

Simply Marius My home is my haven not my city! I didn’t cry I was horrified!

[@mtothem1337]

When i read the title, i thought it was a rich guy that bought 24 apartments and put them all together.

[@SIMKINYX]

I periodically go back to watch this video and it gives me a great pleasure. The planning and execution are nearly perfect. I first learned about this wonderful apartment from books but your video surpasses written material by far being so informative. Thank you for making and posting it. I am surprised id does not have even more views.

[@ghutchinson04]

I do the same thing it is a pretty simple build. Did you see the roller skate like wheels on the bottoms of the walls. But where does one get the tracks he used on the ceiling????

[@SIMKINYX]

Geo H You actually DO something like that?! I merely APPRECIATE what is done by others in interior design :) I have no idea where he got the tracks like that...the designer seems very approachable so maybe you can contact and ask him.

[@ghutchinson04]

I will do thanks for the advice. I saw some tracks on the Home Depot website that look like they can work. Garage door tracks or something similar should do the trick. I also found a layout ofhis design on google. Yay!

[@Snail_Nailz]

About 7 years too late but just in case someone comes along wondering - Hafele & EB Bradley sell these & other innovative track systems

[@jamesdwyer784]

...except for the 3,000 CDs, he's great at making the most out of a small space.

[@heartlandranchtv4943]

James Dwyer I bet he's wishing he had just spent a few hundred on an ipod instead lol.

[@nutrylzone367]

+HeartlandRanchTV Ha, ha! Funny! But he also had plenty of empty storage space too. Looked like the CDs are his wall decoration. Who uses CDs much anymore? Although, he had a smart phone or some other gadget in his hand, he stated that he didn't care for a lot of high tech gadgets and preferred to do things physically, good exercise for his health. I can agree with that. I think we can have too much technology trapping our lives at home or opening up hackers to do some bad things in our lives.

[@jojober1980]

+nutrylzone agree 100%

[@jsnellink1990]

+HeartlandRanchTV 3000 CD's times 700mb lossless audio = 2.1 TB of music, you're talking more than a couple iPods there ;)

[@dawnpaoloabes8441]

CD's? i thought they were books

[@TO__FU]

I would have this over a mansion

[@fluffypinkpandas]

if I had to ever get something "mansion" sized. I would make every room have moving parts like this, and theme it after Quake. "90 fireplacess are aesthetically nice" btfo. if you cant use library shelves as crushing hazards against intruders, and have an automated labrynth of moving dividers, then whats the point of being wealthy.

[@HKSaimuimui]

It's not just the intelligent way to use up the limited space. IT'S AN ART. Well done. Hong Kong Gary.

[@bethroesch2156]

A year after watching this video for the first time, I'm still amazed. Nothing else quite like this. It's brilliant and beautiful

[@ReverendMilesMaria]

This is awesome. This guys should be on TV and sell this to the USA consumers.

[@TheFilamom30]

Can't get better than this! I enjoy these vids very much & I would love to see a breakdown of costs in the projects you upload whenever possible. In my little world your vids have become a form of entertainment bc I rarely watch tv. Thank you so much!

[@TheMusachioedBrony]

I loved this video!! I have seen videos on several small, morphing apartments, but this was by far the best!! The thought that had to go into planning this...I can't even imagine. I love his protests, "I have way too much storage space"...LOL!!!

[@leebailor99]

And he has thought of this first, i saw him in soooo many magazines before he was on the internet , seriously . I think Gary Chang deserves the architecture equivalent of Nobel prize

[@MrBeaux]

I agree, the tracks truly are papaya tree!

[@taboobunny9186]

Small but luxurious...I want one

[@Bobrogers99]

A clever use of limited floor space for multiple functions. I was especially impressed with how a spacious kitchen can be compressed into a small space when not in use. I'm not a bathtub person, so I'd probably redesign that space for my bed, avoiding the hassle of the fold-down one.

[@yahoodlums]

As a HK resident its quite inspiring to see what Gary has done with his small space.

[@Halbmond]

I love how different every small apartment design is. In another video the designer said, you only shower once a day for 5-15min so he designed the shower area to basically fold away when not in use; here, the shower is extra big because “everyone has to do it all the time so why don’t you make it a little bit larger”. Different use cases, different designs, love it

[@sshum00]

That is one sick apartment. Dat papaya tree though

[@jszy]

+2501 did he mean proprietary....

[@Alexpires1986]

Shelby S 😂 LOL

[@dyvog]

I came for the papaya tree and was not disappointed.

[@Palatineoffacts]

where is the papaya tree? what is it? the bath tub?

[@ulvha]

Well I am disappointed with Dat Papaya Tree Though

[@6r4ff3r]

The famous Gary Chang and his (not so less) famous house! ;)

[@designsonyouinparis]

My favorite multi-purpose apartment! Gary Chang would make a fortune here in NYC! Genius! Shared of course!

[@Gerii]

Reminds me to films like Bladerunner or the videogame Deus Ex. Well done and it shows that you don't need a lot of space to live you just have to use it efficient.

[@lancefron1]

WOW! This is a work of genius. So much thought and creative execution. Great use of resources and still feels very luxurious.

[@kirstendirksen]

Thank you. I just added an annotation with the correction on top of the video.

[@stuff90046]

Love the clever design and thought process that went into it. Especially love the full size tub & the roomy shower. Bravo !!!

[@angelajackson4281]

This apartment is such a wonderful use of resources and the design is simple and elegant as well, amazing!!

[@rafiqkatana]

This is the first compartment room that I've actually liked. I might base a lot of my building on this. Thanks.

[@g.e.1432]

You never know what the space really looks like, because it is constantly moving.

[@unrulycrow6299]

I want to hire that man to renovate my apartment.

[@jnthnsumtin]

Loved the orange tint of the windows, and the mirror ceilings helps the lighting and makes the space look bigger. Very well designed, although if it was me id do away with the clutter and go for a more minimalistic approach. Very well designed though. The bathtub is very neat.

[@salo874]

just like deus ex human revolution

[@UltimateChocoWy1]

jonathan sumtiin looks like futuristic

[@whataboutredlorry]

Legendary. I wish I could meet this guy and see his apartment in person.

[@crisgc6057]

Invite me if you ever do! Would love that too

[@queen_of_domination]

He designed it so well.

[@Tautoru]

Thanks Kirsten, this is the best video of this groundbreaking apartment. I really appreciate all the amazing ideas that you bring to me.

[@GM-ul1el]

Well designed, but would feel larger with light colors. With the internet, get rid of the 3000 cds you'll never use. The large bathtub and huge shower, washer and dryer and walk-in closet are a winner.

[@MrBeaux]

"My trouble is I have too much storage" Why should he get rid of his CDs, collecting them is probably a hobby of his, and he has the extra space for them.

[@patriciajanegerrie]

Greg Miller n

[@lalakuma9]

But he has so much storage space, might as well use it for something he's passionate about. I'm sure to him that collection has a lot of sentimental value. Plus the collection shows the homeowner's character.

[@martymaloney1032]

I imagine his cd’s are equivalent to having a library, some of us like to hold a book in our hands rather than scroll to read. Some people like the action of getting a cd or record out of its jacket and placing onto the turn table or whatever that little thing is you put the cd into.😊

[@illuminatiCorgi]

The mirrors hiding the tracks on the ceiling! I didn't even notice that the first time around. I had initially thought that he just had really high ceilings. Great effect though!

[@johnbelushi9097]

I saw this video years ago and I still remember the brilliant yellow color from the windows in this video. I wanted that in my small studio for the longest time. It gives the room such a relaxing feel.

[@joekraxberger1489]

Living small is a recent goal of mine, and thank you for posting this simple living in many cultures. The length of them is at a sweet spot as well. Please don't stop.

[@wilexly]

8:42, proprietary. Not papaya tree

[@kishinumaayumi]

Wilex Ly what? SJJSJSJSJSJS

[@eddiej9733]

Wilex Ly I genuinely thought that it was some groovy attribute of the papaya tree... was about to google what the hell it meant

[@madnessintomagic]

Wilex Ly This reminds me of what confused me in Harry Potter. Always frustrated when Hermione said prodigies potion instead of polyjuice potion. Brit accents really muck some things up.

[@Staki6908]

lol was about to say what kind of tree sounds like that.. and how? I was actually really confuse.

[@areascoda2912]

I was gonna say! Papaya tree would give shit wood.

[@BigSirZebras]

2:28 obviously a single dude when you see an entire fridge shelf designated for two soy sauce packets.

[@vincentpol]

BigSirZebras Can confirm, single dude who's fridge is always very empty, just like that. I would only be throwing a lot of stuff away if I keep it stocked, since not a lot of stuff keeps fresh for more than a week and you can just buy daily stuff every day, hence daily.

[@asteroid684]

lmao! busted

[@odonata9838]

Heaven on earth.

[@rxonmymind8362]

That was me when my wife met me. 😁

[@alexzander1839]

Rxonnymibd, please pass on your blessings.

[@markacevedo441]

Ive been binging these small spaces videos and i have to say this one wins from what ive seen, this seems like the future, excellent execution and the materials are beautiful, well done! Id love to live somewhere like this, and that morning light!!

[@etherealities]

Basically the same idea as the compressed storage stacks that libraries use, but applied to home architecture.

[@beek1553]

It seems cool idea but why room so dark??? I can't see clearly....Dunn

[@liltrooper29]

I love this, the only thing I hate it the orange windows, it makes me feel like I'm in a spaceship with the mirrors and all.

[@FurnitureFan]

You say that as though it were a bad thing? Who wouldn't want to live in a spaceship?

[@1milliemm]

I love the apartment and the creative use of movement.

[@GodISSovereign17]

He has mastered the art of the tiny house, well done!

[@Agostoic]

This has some pretty strong ghost in the shell cyber-punk vibes!

[@ayshiaarmani]

AMAZING DESIGN! One of the best I've seen 🙌🏾🎉

[@EnjoyTheSilenc3]

Every apartment should be built like this, scratch that, everything should be built like this.

[@KCGiD]

A video with this exact apartment was what led me to kristen's channel, and from then on I became a loyal viewer of her videos. That was two years ago. It's funny how now I feel like I've come full circle. Looking forward to the next video:-)

[@OhHenrie1]

I like the whole design other than the fact that the windows are tinted yellow :p

[@mstanton2916]

When he had the window open you could see the rust stains on the outside of the neighboring apts/buildings. The tint to the windows makes the rust not stick out so much and rather seems to blend it to the white... idk, but this seems to me as a possible factor and consideration...

[@Lancaster604]

You can tint it blue or pink or purple if you want , or you can just keep it clear. Not like there's much to look outside anyway.

[@jetdude747]

Hong Kong is also extremely hot during the summer, so I imagine that the tinted windows help to shield out a lot of sun and heat. Most of the hotels in Vegas have tinted windows for the same reason.

[@DayOldMeat]

It makes it look like the newer Deus Ex games, though!

[@designsonyouinparis]

Jason I remember Gary explaining in another video that because it is overcast so much of the time in HK, he installed yellow filters on the windows to mimic sunny days- The trouble with this video is that the videographer did not use proper lighting-

[@christirb1]

I think I would forget some of those rooms!!!! 😂

[@dennisemery07]

Wow Gary! How wonderful👍

[@ramose83]

I saw this once years ago, and it remained in my mind. I am glad to have seen it again. Amazing

[@jinglunzhao2980]

One gotta live in a 10sqft in Hong Kong to understand how amazing this guy's design can be!

[@impumagirl]

That's amazing and so original I love this space its the best tiny apartment ever!!

[@briana14333]

Man, I have never seen a kitchen disappear in one of these tiny, convertible homes! Such a clever design and brilliant maximization of space. Well done

[@wrenfrankie8101]

this house is so beautiful but the orange lighting was driving me insane

[@lifewithkazu2203]

With the extreme population and living space shortage, this could be the way of the future. Pretty ingenious.

[@nereocastione8378]

respectable designer,very well done

[@yoliegunderson8749]

Fabulous. This man is organized and a total genius. Classy and sleek. Bravo!

[@kirstendirksen]

Thanks for noticing.. I just updated the text with the correct website.

[@laratatouille6364]

Space is already a luxury. [ I went to Gary Chang's web site : Just fab! ]

[@MrRayne90]

I thought this a new brilliant choice space saving. It minimize the movement for compartment like folding the furnitures and storing them in place. All you need is transform the space into a department. It's a good credit for space saving option. The downside it might cost higher and rigid design. But it still contribute a good space saving idea for rooms/or tiny house. Good job!

[@siaeva]

One of the best uses of space i've seen. Beautifully done!

[@tamcon72]

This was amazing! Such a clever application of "matryoshka technology" to enlarge the square footage; Thanks For Posting : )

[@musFuzZ]

this is really cool, hope i can use some of his ideas on my own house one day.

[@danielcluley870]

I'm amazed that a guy with that much design sense for simplicity has so much "Stuff" cluttering it up. Less stuff, and you wouldn't need a bunch of rolling shelves. He keeps saying he has too much storage space, but it looks like he is trying to fill it all up!

[@yoliegunderson8749]

Rabin Lee can you please tell me his name? I would love to hire this man. I would incorporate his designs into shipping container homes.

[@ArchitectureRookie]

Well, that's why he's made these changes so he can live a more complex lifestyle in a small space. If he wants to keep a lot of items in the house and has a good way to store them. I think you completely missed the point of the video.

[@xgunna]

He's lived there almost 40 years...... of course he's accumulated a bit of clutter lmao. that's what the storage space is for... his clutter.

[@aohige]

Meh, minimalism is an illness. I'm a packrat but I keep things organized. Then again it's affordable to have a large house here in Texas..

[@marilynwillett804]

minimalism is no mental illness, I love my house, which I own only because it gives me space--with no revolting clutter, living room---fireplace, red sofa, one glass top table with a lamp. no carpet, hardwood floors, red draperies--

[@katherinebopp2021]

I love that you have given so much thought to your space.

[@silvianavarro4904]

You have to move everything everytime you do something. Like, for example, you just got up and want to get something from the fridge, you can't access the kitchen because you have to put the bed first up. It's a lot of storage and the detail on the ceiling is great but I think over the time I'd personally get tired of moving things all the time, specially because when you move something it stays in the middle of the room.

[@TheEleventeen]

Most wonderful designed apartment I have seen so far ! And with the sepia filtered windows, the view is gorgeous ! Thank you for this wonderful video !

[@skyyks3629]

Absolutely stunning! Take my money already

[@drhorton100]

I watched this video 10 years ago...this guy still inspire me.

[@GuerreroUrbano100]

Same! I remember when it came out I was floored and I still am today when I see it. Nothing in the modern tiny home scene compares to this.

[@elizabethbaltazar662]

Gary Chang your place is awesome would love to have one for my self

[@kooltom4]

Amazing, this is the future for living in highly populated cities.

[@vondahe]

That is incredible - so well thought out and designed. Number of “achoulie”: 97

[@theodoreroosevelt7471]

Than you Kirsten Dirksen for all these masterpieces, you’re doing a great job.

[@juliendesmet9423]

I really love how the earlier films often show spaces for dvd collections. The feel like timestamps.

[@kaizersoze]

one of the best ideas I have seen so far.

[@zaak186]

the problem is I think it is practical for only one person. people with family won't be easy to live in

[@largol33t1]

I think you could do this if the walls were cut in half. For example, if one sliding wall is 20 feet long, the constructors could cut it in half. That way, one can slide back and forth to access a closet while the other is using the living room. There are a lot of ways to build sliding/rotating enclosures. If there's an Ikea store in your city, look at how they make pre-fabricated rooms. It's amazing how much they can squeeze into barely 120 square feet.

[@da96103]

You will lose your baby in one of the walls.

[@KindaKrafty]

This was the original video that I had seen for Kirsten's channel, too... although he has made a few amazing changes since that first taping.... wow.... what sheer brilliance!!

[@sandramullikin5088]

Wow, amazing! Great efficient use of space. Best I've ever seen. Awesome job! Tyfs!

[@catquack]

Hong Kong ingenuity. Well done!

[@BT-cr6xb]

Christ! Turn on some freakin lights so we can see something besides yellow and silhouettes !!!!

[@Fuzzled369]

I actually like The silhouettes in yellow to be honest

[@micahkauzlarich5197]

I agree. It’s probably a really neat house but I couldn’t see

[@dyscea]

I mean I'm not a fan, but this was done very well for a look I don't prefer.

[@booooomSPLAT]

I've been waiting for the day you would visit this man! Amazing place.

[@PDogB]

Very cool Gary and Kirsten! I enjoyed the movable walls and color therapy/spa options. Personally, the amount of storage and stuff that's already there would stress out my minimalist soul. Thanks for sharing these inspiring tiny insights from all over the world! Let's see...Do I have room for more? You betcha!

[@divided_eye]

"this is my curtain" hahaha. pretty amazing apt

[@ivenstorm]

I could see this working extremely well in a basement area, it could easily hold a pool table, mini-bar as well as other amenities

[@MyFukinBass]

What a good video, thank you for this, Kirsten.

[@nurdgurl7033]

This place is amazing! And I love how the tint on the windows makes it look like Blade Runner.