Courtesy Olson Kundig Architects
Olson Kundig Architects divided the house into three separate st…
olson kundig architects
seattle
When architect Tom Kundig, FAIA, sat down to design this Hawaii beach house, he faced a dual challenge. The owner had asked him to make the project as sturdy and low-maintenance as possible, because it would have to weather strong storms on its waterfront site. At the same time, the local climate is often mild, so Kundig wanted to open the home to the outdoors as much as he could. “The trick is, how do you do that with a building that has to be sealed?” he says.
He decided to take advantage of abundant natural breezes by strategically placing openings in the home’s corrugated metal roof. Rather than blowing into the house, trade winds sweep over the roof, creating a cooling vacuum that pulls air through the interiors. Kundig also separated the project into three structures, connecting them with covered walkways. The central portion features hydraulic window walls that, when raised, transform the building into an open-air pavilion.
Rammed-earth walls made with soil from the site help root the home in its location, as well as satisfying the need for durability. Their warm, variegated hues pick up the tones of the concrete, wood, and steel used throughout the project. “This house is just incredibly beautiful,” one judge said.
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Project Credits
design principal: Tom Kundig, FAIA, Olson Kundig Architects
principal: Kirsten R. Murray, AIA, Olson Kundig Architects
project manager: Steven Rainville, AIA, LEED AP, Olson Kundig Architect
general contractor: Jim Bickford and Jim Dow, Schuchart/Dow, Seattle
structural engineer: Monte Clark, MCE Structural Consultants, Stevensville, Mont.
mechanical engineer: Interface Engineering, Portland, Ore.
wind engineer: RWDI, Guelph, Ontario
project size: 3,820 square feet
site size: 5 acres
construction cost: Withheld
photography: Benjamin Benschneider, except where noted.
product details
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