The project site is located in Kukuihaele on Hawaii’s Big Island. The 4-acre parcel is perched atop a steep bluff on the island’s northern coast. The spectacular site overlooks the Waipio Valley, also called the “Sacred Valley of the Kings.” This is where King Kamehameha the Great defeated the ruling chiefs of the other islands in a decisive battle before uniting all the islands under his rule. The six-acre property, once owned by King Kamehameha IV, is perched high above the Pacific Ocean.
The building is situated at the threshold where the jungle meets the Hawaiian coast. One side of the house is embedded among the flora of the verdant site, while the other side opens to the expanse of panoramic ocean views. The program is a single-family residence that also serves as a working facility for the clients, who are a filmmaker, a director, and a musician. The work aspects of the building include creative offices, a screening room, and a recording studio. A courtyard provides a protected outdoor space within the home and offers an inward focus.
The roof forms are derived from historical precedents typical of the Hawaiian Islands. Hipped roofs with exposed structures and deep overhangs provide an environmentally friendly response to the tropical climate. The design of the home exploits the possibilities of these roof forms. Vaults and coffers are manipulated to respond to light, air, views, and sun protection. Each individual roof corresponds to a specific idea related to the interior programming of the home.
The parts are aggregated to create a composition of volumes that comprise the roofscape. The assembly of the roof volumes seemingly floats above the typical program found in a single-family residence.
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