The outdoors is fundamental to Wai Tsui, founder of Hiking Patrol. That's why, two years ago, when he, his partner Adeline Hermier, and their young son, Lian, were looking for a new home, they were immediately drawn to a modernist concrete house just outside Oslo, Norway. From its open terrace, large windows, and garden overlooking the forest, this Norwegian creative can go for a run in the mountains, take his son sledding in the snow, or simply sit by the fire playing with Lego in the living room. It's a perfect fusion of indoors and outdoors.
His love for nature is a value that Wai shares with the creative community he has built through Hiking Patrol, the digital space he founded in 2017. A few years later, the technically superior garments and design objects, created to make outdoor life easier, continue to be in high demand.
Tell me about the house where you live.
It's an old concrete house from 1970 that I bought two years ago. We kept the original teak paneling and white brick walls. We even kept the bathroom, with its orange and brown color scheme. We added concrete flooring. There are still many things we want to do to the house, but we'll leave it pretty much as it is. I love living here. It's definitely my creative space.
How do you choose the furniture and other items for your home?
I love Japanese and mid-century design; you can see Adeline's and my personalities reflected in our decor. I try to buy durable furniture that can be moved from house to house. Most of these pieces have been with me for almost ten years. Adeline makes ceramics, so we have many of her pieces at home. Sometimes we keep them for a few weeks, then sell them and buy new ones. We combine light interiors with wood paneling, but we also have a steel kitchen, so we soften the coldness with warmth and light. Since I spend a lot of time here every day, it's almost like my inspiration space. If I get creatively blocked from spending too much time online, I go to the bookshelf and pull out an old magazine or go for a walk. I always try to carefully select what we have because there comes a point when you don't need any more things. I try to be more selective, to create emotional memories with what we already own.
“Since I spend so much time here every day, it’s almost like my playground for inspiration. If I get creatively blocked from spending too much time online, I go to the bookshelf and pull out an old magazine or go for a walk.”
You live with one foot in the city and the other in the countryside.
The first thing that caught our eye about this house was the garden. You can see the forest from the terrace. In the summer, deer come to graze in the garden in the mornings, and there's a small hill nearby where I can go for a run. I travel a lot. I go to London for work three days a month and to Japan twice a year. But I like being at home. Oslo is very peaceful, so the atmosphere here isn't as stressful.
Tell me what role nature plays in your daily life here.
I go out every day. I always take my son to kindergarten and then I exercise. In winter, with the snow, it's a bit slippery, so I usually work out at the gym, but I love running every day I can. It's great because it's so close by; there's nothing stopping me. That's been important for me because I work in some pretty stressful environments.
“From our terrace I can see the forest; in summer, in the morning, deer come to the backyard to eat grass; and nearby there is a small mountain where I can go for a run.”
How did Hiking Patrol come about?
I started Hiking Patrol in 2017 as an account dedicated to sharing outdoor lifestyle experiences, but at first, I only did it for myself and my friends. Later, we began working more like a creative agency, collaborating with brands, producing campaigns, and doing photoshoots. In recent years, we've also started working on product collaborations, at the intersection of lifestyle and fashion. In addition to clothing and footwear, I work with furniture. I love interior design. So, I'm trying to create this universe, working on projects that I'm passionate about. It all comes about very naturally.
“I love interior design. That’s why I try to create this universe, working on projects that I’m passionate about.”
Do you have any weekend rituals?
The three of us are usually together, and on Saturdays and Sundays we spend most of our time in the living room, in the center of the house. We play with Lego, do puzzles, play with Play-Doh, and try not to watch too much television. We sit on floor cushions, and my girlfriend always makes Norwegian waffles with brown cheese and jam. Then, when we put Lian to bed, we have our time in the living room. So we spend most of our time downstairs. I usually come down here to work too, instead of staying in the office, because I like being in this space.
What does home mean to you?
Home is love. Warmth, connection, memories. Many family events are celebrated here. It's a space for creativity. For me, home is also a place where I feel safe, but also where I learn about myself, because I spend so much time here. Working as a freelancer gives me time to reflect on things: how I can be a better person, how I can strive to be better, evolve, and learn. The journey begins at home.
"Home is love. Warmth, togetherness, memories. Many family events are celebrated here. It's a space for creativity."
In collaboration with Friends of Friends
Photography by Anne Valeur
Words by Maisie Skidmore
