It is almost impossible not to remark on the view from Rebecca Chan’s one-bedroom, one-study, two-bathroom flat in Hong Kong’s Mid-Levels. Directly opposite the entrance to her 1,300 sq ft (120 square metre) home are French doors that lead onto a balcony and frame a lush vista of what feels like at least 50 shades of green. Architect Liz Lau Win-wa was so captivated by the nature on Chan’s doorstep that she used it as the starting point for the design concept after being commissioned to revamp...