Set atop a hardened lava flow with views of sky, sun, and water, this family compound strikes a balance between modernity and tradition. Old and new ebb and flow through a simple composition of small structures linked by a lush courtyard and a series of walkways and patios. Composed of four independent structures, including a cedar-clad main living pod, the siting balances the desire to host friends and family as well as privacy. Architecture and interiors are modern yet rely heavily on traditional materials and touchstones. “We call it the 'Village,” notes Greg Warner, of the arrangement, a grouping of four separate structures. The home is built to rest gently in the landscape but also to last for generations. “We execute enduring archi­tecture—in the sense of material quality but also livability,” Warner says. “We have high hopes for the legacy of this project.”

Traditional Hawaiian villages, typically organized in loose clusters, inspired both the 1.5 acre site plan and the architectural style. The composition of 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.” Total interior space encompass approximately 4,800 square feet. The compound is surrounded by a field of lava and native grasses.

The main living pod is pushed to the edge of the sea, while the supporting structures, containing the two guest suites and communal relaxation areas, are set back, deeper in the property. Guest suite bedrooms open onto concrete-walled private courts for additional seclusion. The arrangement assumes that the three-bedroom residence feel expansive and take advantage of the views.

The structures housing the master suite and the main living areas are located on the site’s ocean side. Set back deeper in the property are pods containing the two guest suites and communal relaxation areas. Bedrooms open onto concrete-walled private courts for additional seclusion. Interiors encompass approximately 4,800 square feet, but the arrangement makes the three-bedroom residence feel expansive.

The use of heavily mortared lava rock was inspired by the historic Mokuaikaua Church, located in nearby Kailua. Windows are framed in stained sapele mahogany. Western red cedar serves as the dominant wood—both for cladding and the roof shingles—since it resists heat, moisture, and insects. Inside, stained and lightly polished concrete flooring keeps things cool during the day.

Inside spaces flow seamlessly to outside. Sapele-framed sliders glide open to the elements, and operable windows swivel to coax in the breeze and encourage cross ventilation. “The living room unfurls to become porchlike,” Warner adds, noting the continuity of floor and ceiling materials between interiors and adjacent alfresco spaces. The degree of openness led Philpotts-Miller to favor “indestructible” solution-dyed acrylic upholstery for much of the casual furniture. A Lee Kelly oil on canvas animates the living room’s assemblage of Christian Liaigre furnishings, including an oak lamp and sofa and wenge lounge chairs; the ceiling slats are bleached Douglas fir. The kitchen’s island and table are topped in honed Cararra marble. Custom surfboards—one hand-painted, the other crafted of paulownia—hang above the rec room’s Eero Saarinen table.

Philpotts-Miller sought to capture the “adventurous nature” of the clients. “The use of color is very playful and dynamic,” she says. In the rec room, for instance, custom surfboards are mounted on the wall like artworks. A koi pond is the focal point of the courtyard between the main living and master suite pods. The scheme is no-frills, simple, and airy, with a midcentury vibe that Philpotts-Miller explains was inspired by the work of Hawaiian modernist Vladimir Ossipoff. “Because the architecture is so thoughtfully put together and there’s so much natural texture, we didn’t need to load up the interiors,” Philpotts-Miller continues. The master bedroom is likewise grounded with earthy, timber-toned accents—whitewashed wood wall paneling, a walnut bench—and also lifted via a sky-blue rug and throw pillows. The master bedroom’s bench is walnut. Concrete walls and cedar slats enclose the custom cast-concrete tub standing in the courtyard off the master bathroom. Flooring in the master bathroom and throughout is polished, stained concrete. A niche in the master bedroom features a chair by Naoto Fukasawa. The master suite’s study culminates in a sitting area with a Charles and Ray Eames lounger offering Maui views.

Walker Warner Architects project team

Principal: Greg Warner, Principal, AIA, LEED AP

Senior Project Manager, Architect: David Shutt

Project team: Rob Campodonico, Anja Hämäläinen, Boyce Postma, Rina Wiedenhoeft

Consultant team

Architecture: Walker Warner Architects

Construction Contract Administration: David Shutt Architecture, East Bay, California

Interior design: Philpotts Interiors

Landscape architect: David Y. Tamura

Lighting consultant: Lighting & Engineering Integrated, Inc.

Structural engineer: Hayes Structural Design

Mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP) engineer: Mark Morrison Mechanical Engineering

Civil engineer: Kona Wai Engineering, LLC

General contractor: Oakes Management

Wall Board: Arc Wood & Timbers

Cabinetry & Millwork: Na Kalai La'au Woodshop

Photography

Matthew Millman

Our role was to take our client’s personal needs and aesthetic desires and blend them seamlessly into an oceanfront vacation home that worked on many different levels. The project required that we be sensitive to the property itself, which ran mauka-to-makai (mountain-to-ocean) along the boundary of an ancient Hawaiian footpath.

The client’s Parkinson’s disease meant his special needs had to be addressed at all times. He wanted to be able to travel easily between the home’s interior and outdoor spaces by eliminating stairs and thresholds. A healing garden and custom concrete tub were designed into the space off the master bathroom.

We provided full interior design services including custom finishes, decorative lighting, plumbing and appliances, design details, custom built furniture, procurement of landscape elements and FF&E sourcing and procurement.

Our client is semi-retired and escapes the rainy Pacific Northwest for Hawaiʻi several times a year. He and his partner love entertaining. Outdoors we built a concrete banquette that needs no maintenance and becomes comfy with the addition of pillows. An outdoor dining table is modular and can be decreased or expanded depending on the number of guests.

A modern interpretation of the stone walls originally seen in historic island churches required a great deal of study. These walls created a highly distinctive appearance both inside and outside the home.

The furniture we selected for the master bedroom is minimal and bathed in cool, blue tones which echo the ocean outside the window. Furnishings include a bed platform and niche desk. The master bath is an indoor-outdoor spa experience where the glass shower wall pivots opening onto an outdoor garden. Cast concrete walls and angled doors and windows created a statement of simplicity and modernity throughout the property.

Finished concrete floors throughout the house are cool to the touch and make for easy maintenance. In the recreation room Hawaiian style daybeds (pūneʻe) and trundle beds work in a modern way, as sofas during the day and are able to sleep “a small army” at night. Here guests can play shuffleboard or lounge and watch TV. Bold red, sturdy Chilewich material accented with black and tan punctuates the rec room with lots of color.

We worked with the client to thoughtfully put together a budget - and stuck with it. We were fortunate that we had a client who believed in our design team and was willing to push the envelope. Our prime objective was to “buy for life” and not compromise on quality. More was spent on items for the living room, knowing we could balance those purchases with less expensive items elsewhere. We looked for a few timeless classics with a simple, casual, modernist presence.

Material Used :
Exterior: 
1. Stone veneer - Locally sourced basalt to match stone used on the Moku'aikaua Congregational Church Kailua, Kona
2. Wood siding - Western Red Cedar, lightly resawn, shiplap profile
3. Wood screen walls - Western Red Cedar
4. Exposed concrete - Custom formed integral color concrete foundation walls, site walls and polished concrete slab floors
5. Windows and doors - Wood windows and doors, Sapele veneers
6. Roof - Painted Douglas Fir rafter tails, exposed decking and perlins Cedar shingles
7. Gutters - Copper
8. Recessed lighting - Iris Lighting Systems

Interior: 
1. Wood walls - Domestic White Oak, Wire brushed, custom bleached and stained
2. Wood ceiling boards - Western Red Cedar, Wire brushed, stained
3. Cabinets - Painted cabinets, Poplar; Stained cabinets, Domestic White Oak to match walls
4. Hardware - Sun Valley Bronze
5. Appliances - Mostly Miele, Sub Zero, Wolf…
6. Plumbing fixtures - Mostly Watermark, Toto
7. Stone countertops - Basaltina, Carrara marble