KONA

This plot is in a community overlooking the pacific ocean on the big island of Hawaii. The entire development sits on a lava field and the site is ocean front. Colors are intense with the blue of the ocean contrasting with the intense vibrancy of vegetation and the blackness of the volcanic rock to create a surreal visual environment. The backdrop of the volcanoes is just impressive as the view of the sea and Maui across the channel. The client was inspired by the site and wanted to create something that was more than just a home, truly related to the landscape in a poetic way, with themes that occur in the landscape should be repeated within the structure.

The design for the house grew out of the concept of thick stone lava walls that would create a series of gardens and spaces and act to separate aspects of the program into public, semi-public and private spaces. Pavilions for living would float between the walls and allow for continuous planes of glass that could disappear into pockets so that living spaces would become conceptually more like the traditional shelters that the Hawaiian natives utilized before modern building methods were developed. Natural cross ventilation was a primary driver of the project, with bodies of water cooling the breeze as it worked its way across the property.

Upon approach, the drive court is screened by two large lava walls with a light canopy entry inviting you to explore the gardens and pavilions within. The entry garden leads directly to the main living space and flows around a guest pavilion to connect with the rest of the property. The main pavilion runs parallel to the ocean and opens to expansive covered terraces and the pool, which makes the most of underwater architecture utilizing various depths featuring baja shelves, islands and seating areas. Passing through the lava wall to the north, more private spaces of the home are separated by glass enclosed breezeways and tropical gardens. Towards the south, additional guest rooms screen the gardens from the neighboring property and a sunken play area for grandchildren allows for the creation of some intimate family rooms below the main body of the guest wing.

The palette for the project is refined, consisting of lava walls, natural wood, glass, limestone, and travertine. The house is meant to blend into and be one with the surrounding lava-scape, low, expansive and contextually synonymous.