this is not your parents' prefab home

sunset breezehouse

our little family of two can definitely be described as nice modernists and we have been keeping tabs on the blossoming modern prefab movement for quite some time. this afternoon i learned that michelle kaufmann designs recently built a factory in washington and one of their service areas is hawaii (currently, there are three savvy folks building a mkd home in the islands - lucky, lucky)!

this is so exciting. it's pretty easy to spot a typical prefab home in hawaii (in fact, my fella grew up in a hicks home) but if you are not familiar with modern prefab design you should definitely take a look and see what has changed in the past 30 years (fab prefab is an excellent resource). the mkd houses have been designed with the environment in mind and feature sustainable materials like bamboo floors, on demand water heaters & non-toxic paints as well as eco-friendly options like recycled glass tiles & solar power.

unless you have been living under a rock you know that the housing crunch has forced island families who can afford it to raze & rebuild or add an extension to their existing home to house multiple generations so this is definitely an alternative to consider if your budget allows it. i can count three families in my own circle who have either built a new home, are in the process of adding an extension, or are seriously considering going down that road since home ownership costs are so out of reach for many twenty & thirtysomethings.

as for us, this gives us a little more hope that one day we will be able to build an eco-friendly modern dwelling when we finally move back home. of course, it will be a challenge to find a fee simple lot that we can afford but a girl can dream.

{mahalo jetson green!}

monkeypod treehouse

the big island seems to have become a haven for fans of modern architecture. case in point, the fabulous monkeypod treehouse located in the puna district. if you're seeking privacy, this looks like a wonderful and luxurious retreat stocked with modern furnishings and features a screened living room, 500 foot deck & an outdoor shower.

if space is an issue, there are 2 master bedrooms so there is plenty of room to invite family or friends to join you on your island getaway. and, after a day spent exploring the nearby beaches and lava fields, your body will appreciate the memory foam beds and 500 thread count sheets when slumberland comes a calling.

rates range from $125 a night in the low season to $175 during the holidays.

modern tropical getaway

big island home searching for nice modernists dreaming of spending their island getaway somewhere with good lines and thoughtful design during their next trip to hawaii. well, at least that's how i think it would sound if there was such a thing as architecture/design junkie matchmaking ads.

summer may be coming to an end but if you're planning a trip during the popular winter season it's time to get your vacation plans in order. we all know a nice place to stay can be hard to find so why not ditch the questionable attempts at hawaiian design that are so prevalent in the hit or miss world of vacation rentals?

spend a few nights at hale balleja, a modern vacation rental designed by architect craig steely, and discover if you are the modern type. even if it ends up not being your thing, you'll get to enjoy an ocean view without paying resort prices or surrounded by a stranger's outdated notion of island decor.

modern island style

lavaflow 1

living on a lava field may not be most people's idea of the oft repeated real estate maxim "location, location, location" but if you love modern architecture you'll certainly admire the work of architect craig steely. i first learned about craig when his big island home was featured in dwell a few years back and it's wonderful to know that there are folks working to bring modern design to hawaii.

now if only someone would create affordable modernist prefab housing for the islands.

shangri la

shangri la courtyard + playhouse

since i have a curious fascination in seeing how the other half lives, i am ever the sucker for historic home tours like hearst castle. imagine my delight when the doris duke estate, a.k.a. shangri la (isn't that one of the most evocative names?), was opened to the public a few years ago.

the estate is just not something you would expect to find in hawaii which makes it all the more fabulous. the morrocan vibe is something that really should be experienced in person and anyone with an interest in art, architecture & design would enjoy exploring the diamond head estate on the guided tour offered by the honolulu academy of arts.