Experimental Design in Hawai’i

Alongside an 1801 lava flow on the leeward coast of Hawai’i, this residence was designed as modern island architecture that connects the owner to nature, region, and culture.

Counter-intuitive to the master planned property, the home’s living spaces orient to the glancing coastal views on a bias to the property lines. The spaces of the home are organized as a series of interlocking separate pavilions, which result in a strong use of negative space between pavilions — the Japanese concept of Ma. In spite of the design challenge of the master planning, orienting the living spaces on the bias results in a much richer experimental atmosphere to the design.