building salvation

yay! re-use hawaii, a non-profit which a friend recently co-founded as a way to bring sustainable deconstruction to the islands has been getting some much deserved buzz lately. it just may be the first organization of its kind in hawaii offering a much needed alternative to sending vast amounts of construction waste to hawaii's ever shrinking landfills.

if you're not familiar with the process, after a site inspection, the re-use hawaii team breaks down a structure in a way that allows as much of the building materials as possible to be reused or recycled. salvaged materials can be purchased by the public at a fraction of the cost of buying virgin products thus reducing the impact of projects made from secondhand lumber, etc. by conserving energy and natural resources.

[after all, trees don't magically transform themselves into 2x4's. it takes a significant amount of manpower and machines (and lots of water and energy) to get it from the forest to your neighborhood home center.]

of course, not everyone has a building waiting to be deconstructed but re-use hawaii is definitely a
resource that should be on the radar of all island architects, contractors & designers for future clients concerned about the impact their projects will have on the local environment. and, if a different kind of green makes your world go round, you will be happy to know that donated materials are also eligible for a tax deduction.

take a peek behind the scenes via the rh project gallery.

hawaiian modern

hello again! hope you had a lovely week while i was away. let's continue on with the trip report that was interrupted by my impromptu winter getaway . . .

back in november, i briefly mentioned the vladimir ossipoff exhibit at the academy of arts and i was happy, happy to visit the land of hawaiian modern during my trip home. if you haven't already hit it, this is a must see for anyone who adores architecture and design and wants a peek inside the life of the man who was the foremost creator of mid-century modern in the islands.

chances are you have unwittingly passed by the late architect's work be it the honolulu airport, his acclaimed ibm building on ala moana blvd, or the outrigger canoe club. ossipoff took every element into consideration when creating his restrained designs by working with hawaii's natural wonders like trade winds, sunlight, and, of course, views. he even declared a "war on ugliness" in the islands although that appeal still goes unheeded by far too many builders.

the exhibit features a fascinating glimpse into ossipoff's life (born in russia, raised in japan, educated at berkeley) plus blueprints, archival footage, and spectacular to scale wooden models of ossipoff structures.

blanche hill house, kahala

if you can't go, the official website is chock full of images and video clips of past and present ossipoff creations (my fella's favorite, shown above, was sinfully demolished by real estate speculators in the 80s) and the hefty exhibit catalogue is on sale at the academy's online shop (or click over to amazon to pick up a copy if you are watching your pennies).

the ossipoff exhibit closes on jan 27th, but if you go this weekend you can enjoy free admission during bank of hawaii sunday (11a to 5p).

{blanche hill house photo credit: robert wenkam}

island style book picks

since books are always a lovely gift idea, here is a quick roundup of recently published tomes, both modern and old school in style, that are sure to be a welcome find under the christmas tree.

for the hostess with the mostess on your gift list:

party hawai'i which is filled with updated tips and menus to throw a contemporary island style bash. {via mixed plate special}

for the foodie:

everyone who enjoys reading betty shimabukuro's by request column in the star-bulletin will appreciate a copy of what hawai'i likes to eat. betty and co-author muriel miura gathered up 137 old school island favorites including the dobash cake recipe from woolworth's.

for the design junkie:

while checking out party hawai'i online, amazon's on point recommendation was the hawaiian house now which spotlights fresh interpretations of the aloha spirit in island architecture and design. perfect timing since my latest project is stocking up on design titles for my library.

and, the book i am most excited about: hawaiian modern which will be released in late january. in design circles, you always hear about people living in a case study house or a neutra house . . . who knew hawaii had its own acclaimed architect of mid-century modern design?

hopefully, we will make it home sometime during the vladimir ossipoff exhibit at the academy of arts which kicks off later this month.

an affair to remember

haiku mill

one glimpse at the pua le'a estate and i fell in love all over again. the setting is dreamy . . . an abandoned sugar mill in haiku restored with both earthly delights and vintage finds scavenged from paris flea markets by an owner inspired by the love of his life. it's like hawaii's very own taj mahal hidden in the hills of maui.

within the sugar mill's walls, a pergola constructed of glass creates a swoony setting for dancing under the stars. also on the grounds, a shabby chic plantation style cottage filled with sparkly chandeliers, whitewashed furniture, and more vintage treasures. the cottage doubles as a changing room for wedding parties as well as a post-bash escape for newlyweds.

for more details on booking a private event, click over to white orchid weddings where you can also take a peek at the slideshow.

bamboo or bust

nothing exemplifies what's old is new again more than the west embracing bamboo as a building material made for the 21st century. the same sustainable qualities that have made bamboo an interior design darling from kitchenware to flooring has prompted a maui company to host an international design competition to promote bamboo's versatility beyond the traditional hut.

the winners will be announced soon and a few designs have the potential to make the leap from daydreaming doodles to livable dwelling. my favorite family home finalist is this bamboo house submitted by a design group in china. another residential favorite may have been too fanciful to make the cut but i love how it integrated a green roof into its cylindrical design.

bamboo house

cylinder house

designs are not just limited to residential but also include ideas for affordable housing, emergency shelter and even treehouses. bamboo technologies, which is hosting the competition, specializes in prefab bamboo buildings for folks seeking a more affordable and eco-friendly housing alternative in the islands. many of the designs are in the balinese style but do take a peek at the flex house if the post about the breezehouse piqued your interest in modern prefab housing.