Photo: Paul Warchol
Ocean House
The Big Island, Hawaii
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Design Principal
Jim Olson
Inspired by traditional Balinese palaces and temples, this house sits on a beautiful promontory of exposed lava on the island of Hawaii. Tropical design concepts and time-honored building practices were used to fit the house naturally into its setting.
The lava base anchors the house to the site, while the roof planes appear to float in the sky. Broad overhangs protect the interior from the sun, while sliding window walls open to unite inside and outside and cool the house using existing breezes. A river of hardened lava runs through the site and symbolically connects the house to important Pacific culture sources of energy: the mountains and the sea.
Team
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Design Principal
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Project Manager
Publications
2018
Ojega, Oscar Riera and Byron Hawes. “Ocean House.” Modern Tropical: Houses in the Sun, 2018, 13-15, 314-325. Book.
2014
Webb, Michael. “The Spirit of Hawai’i.” The Kahala Magazine Vol.9 No.1, 2014, 36-41. Print. Web.
2013
Monsalve, Elvira. “The Ocean House.” BG Magazine No. 74, June 2013, 96-100. Print.
“Ocean House in Hawaii by Olson Kundig Architects.” Design Rulz, Nov. 2013. Web.
2011
Troconiz, Myriam Leon. “Aloha Hawaii.” OD Casas Edicion Especial 2011, 66-77. Print. Web.
“Ocean House.” Porsche, June 2011, 30-34. Print.
2007
“AD Letters.” Architectural Digest Vol. 64 No. 7, June 2007, 30. Print.
Bissell, Therese. “Immersed in the Island.” Architectural Digest, April 2007, 194-201. Print. Web.
