14 DIGS.NET | 8.7.2020
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P R O F I L E | W A L K E R W A R N E R
TRADITIONAL HAWAIIAN VILLAGES,
TYPICALLY ORGANIZED IN LOOSE CLUSTERS,
INSPIRED BOTH THE 1.5 ACRE SITE PLAN AND
THE ARCHITECTURAL STYLE.
Characterized
by its angular
form, and truly
honoring its
surroundings,
the compound
takes advantage of
spectacular ocean
and sky views.
t took three years to build this house, which
seems to rest gently on the landscape of
the Kona side of Hawaii. Walker Warner
Architects, Philpotts Interiors and landscape
architect David Y. Tamura Associates combined
their talents and vision to bring four independent
structures to life, linked to each other by a lush
courtyard and a series of walkways and patios.
"We call it the Village," says Greg Warner,
principal at Walker Warner Architects.
Spread over a 1.5-acre site and surrounded
by a field of lava and native grasses, the
project was inspired by traditional villages of
the island, usually organized in loose clusters.
The canted steel columns, steep-pitched roofs,
and rhomboidal window and door openings
"represent a contemporary interpretation of
early Hawaiian hale shelters," Warner says.
"They're like modernist lean-tos." Characterized
by its angular form, and truly honoring its
surroundings, the compound takes advantage of
spectacular ocean and sky views. Materials also
pay tribute to the location, such as the heavily
mortared lava rock, inspired by the historic
Mokuaikaua Church in nearby Kailua; stained
sapele mahogany for window frames; western
red cedar for cladding and roof shingles—
which resist heat, moisture and insects—and
polished concrete flooring to keep spaces cool.
Interior areas of approximately 4,800 square
feet comprise the cedar-clad main living pod
and master suite—adorned with earthy, timber-
toned accents and furnished with a Naoto
Fukasawa chair and an Eames lounger, among
other design pieces—on the ocean side, while
guest suites and recreation areas occupy the
front (entry and street side) of the property.
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