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For a globally renowned architect and interior designer, Steve Leung has never built his own house. He has designed and built houses for numerous clients as the head of his own award-winning design firm, but never one for himself and his family, at least not from scratch.
Until his love for Niseko and the chance to buy a choice piece of land in Japan’s skiing capital led him to build a holiday home so special that he christened it OOAK (One of A Kind).
Famous Hong Kong Architect
The 66-year-old Hong Kong-based architect founded Steve Leung Design Group in 1997, which is known for high-profile projects such as the luxury apartment One Park Shanghai, Shangri-La The Shard, London, and Wilmar headquarters (agribusiness) in Singapore.
Exterior of OOAK Niseko. PHOTO: SOHEI OYA & IKUYA SASAKI
OOAK Niseko, Japan
The brand name OOAK was one he developed with his artist wife Anita and two 30-something children, Stefanie and Nicholas. The first was OOAK Lamma – their holiday home on Lamma island in Hong Kong. Completed in 2019, the villa was a refurbishment of two village houses which Leung bought for Stefanie, a lawyer-turned-chef.
To support Stefanie’s decision to pursue her new culinary career, Steve purchased the property as a gift for her to run her own private kitchen. There, she’s able to cook with local ingredients and entertain family and friends.
OOAK Niseko, on the other hand, is a personal passion project for Leung, who took two years to design and build the house after buying the land. “I fell in love with this particular plot because of the unrivalled privacy it offers, being high up in the mountain with no other houses around. Because of its altitude, it also has a spectacular, unblocked view of Mount Yotei that you can’t find anywhere else.”
Steve Leung at OOAK Niseko PHOTO: SOHEI OYA & IKUYA SASAKI
An Architect's Dream
“OOAK Niseko embodies my personal aesthetics and lifestyle,” says Leung.
“An architect always dreams of building his own house, but that is particularly difficult in Hong Kong. In fact, I have only ever designed the interiors for all my homes until now. So OOAK Niseko is the very first house where I can fully decide everything from my own perspective – from its location and architecture to interior design and art display.”
Visiting Niseko Since 30 Years Ago
Leung’s love affair with Niseko began 30 years ago, just when the area was beginning to grow as an international ski haven.
“Back then, there was only one hotel and a few restaurants, and we had to take the train and travel a long way to get there,” he recalls. “But that never stopped me from going there regularly throughout the years, even when my kids were young.”
Powder Snow to Lavender Fields
Those years were important for family bonding, as activities such as skiing, looking for good food and just enjoying the “mesmerising” seasons from powder-light snow in winter to the beauty of lavender fields in the summer, brought them closer together.
“We seem to have come full circle, being able to celebrate OOAK Niseko as our own holiday home in Japan and looking forward to coming as often as we can.” He adds that he’s already been back to Niseko four times in the last three months.
Japanese Architect, Makoto Nakayama
Leung picked Japanese architect Makoto Nakayama to collaborate on the design of OOAK Niseko, after seeing the latter’s work on the luxury ryokan Zaborin.
“I wanted to work with someone who is familiar with Japan’s construction laws. I was so impressed with Makoto-san’s craftsmanship at Zaborin, and our experience there, which paved the way for our collaboration.”
The living room at OOAK Niseko ski resort holiday home. PHOTO: SOHEI OYA & IKUYA SASAKI
House matches surrounding views
Human-centric design is Leung’s fundamental principle for building houses.
“I want it to be both beautiful and functional,” he explains. “Instead of a traditional Japanese house, I opted for a contemporary design that matches the natural scenery around the house.
For example, in the local community, most Japanese-style buildings have sloping roofs. However, we adopted a flat roof design with clean but unique structural lines. We used design elements that reflect both Japanese and international cultures. You could describe OOAK Niseko as a meeting of Chinese and Japanese minds.”
Couldn't build ski home on a slope
Leung had originally wanted to build OOAK Niseko on a slope, given its rare position on a hillside. Based on his experience in Hong Kong, even though it’s not easy to build a house from scratch there, building on a slope is not uncommon, with examples like Mid-Levels and The Peak.
Snow avalanches may occur
But his Japanese counterpart Nakayama advised against it because of environmental concerns such as avalanches and water problems.
“That’s why Japanese architects rarely work on projects that are on slopes,” says Leung. The cost would also have been prohibitive, as a long road would need to be built, which itself would be dangerous during the heavy snow season.
Mount Yotei View
Nonetheless, his love for nature and privacy is still maximised in the resulting house – a sleek structure which boasts a magnificent view of Mount Yotei and the lush forest surrounding it.
From exterior to interior, it is a reflection of his minimalist aesthetic. “If you take a tour, it’s not difficult to learn about my mindset and inner self,” he says.
The guest room bathroom has a tranquil view in the OOAK Niseko holiday home. PHOTO: SOHEI OYA & IKUYA SASAKI
Sustainable Architecture and Design
Sustainability also factors in the design process. His initial thoughts on building the house revolved around the natural scenery and geography, and strategically designing it in a way that would preserve the terroir, which includes the wood, trees, and soil in the surrounding area.
“I even wanted to build my house partially inside the mountain. However, I was told the snow would bury the whole house in winter!” he quips.
Balancing Harsh Winters & Sunny Summers
For him, it was about finding the equilibrium between sustainability and his aesthetic goals.
“For instance, Hokkaido’s winter season gets quite cold so the most sustainable way to build the house is with thick walls and small windows. However, I bought a beautiful piece of land, and of course, I want my house to look pretty. Therefore, I used technology to help me balance the beauty of the house and sustainable design. I installed insulated glass windows that are relatively large, so they are good at keeping homes warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.”
Helper's Rooms
He also included practical touches such as helper’s and laundry rooms.
“When I used to rent houses in Niseko, most Japanese architects did not include such features, so I created these functional spaces,” he says.
Traditional & Modern Furniture
Interiors-wise, Leung chose a sophisticated mix of Japanese and modern furniture. He zeroed in on two brands – one of which is HC 28, a Chinese furniture brand available worldwide.
“I have designed a few collections for the brand, and the (owners) are now my good friends,” he says. The second is Time & Style, a famous Japanese furniture company. “I know their founder, and their sense of aesthetic is highly aligned with mine. You can see their wardrobes, bookshelves, and other furniture in my house.”
The interior is styled with a dark grey floor, wooden ceiling, and cement stone pillars. And the indispensable fireplace in the living room is made of natural steel panels, of which the pattern and colour will gradually change with time.
The interior is styled with dark grey floors, wooden ceiling and cement stone pillars at the OOAK Niseko ski holiday home. PHOTO: SOHEI OYA & IKUYA SASAKI
Down to the detail
Leung, who was awarded the distinguished Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year (2015), personally picked all the building materials and even the household utensils for the house.
“Considering my family and my needs, habits and hobbies, I imagined how we would live and interact there,” he says.
With this in mind, he included a ski room for storing equipment and a dedicated entertainment room with TV and karaoke. The home also has vast living and dining space, and three large en suite bedrooms with huge Japanese-style baths. There’s a tatami-mat massage room, which doubles as the fourth bedroom.
Children love OOAK Niseko
His children, too, are equally fond of Niseko. Says Stefanie, “OOAK Niseko is a home away from home, a sanctuary where the family gets together to wind down and enjoy each other’s company. Both homes (OOAK Lamma Island and Niseko) hold a place dear to my heart.”
Nicholas, who runs private members club C+ in Hong Kong, agrees with his sister.
“The one thing that I enjoy the most about OOAK Niseko is its serenity. Imagine waking up to a snowy winter morning surrounded by nothing but white as you gaze out of the windows. It is a blessing and luxury to have this home and be able to take the time to relax, recharge and gain the inspirations that are so necessary in the creation of your own works,” he says.
Nicholas adds that OOAK involves contributions from the entire family, each participating in a way that eventually creates something that is one-of-a-kind. “This project allowed the entire family to come together and work towards the same goal, and this to me is even more valuable than the project itself,” he adds.
As for Leung, “The creation of OOAK Niseko offered me the full freedom to express myself. Being my own client, I have to just listen to myself and my heart.”