ettore sottsass-designed maui retreat is memphis through and through

a series of brightly colored, geometric volumes make up casa olabeunaga, a hawaiian residence designed by famed italian architect and designer, ettore sottsass. completed in 1997 the home is defined by its memphis style, with virtually everything in the home, from furniture and décor, to the dishes, flatware, glasses, and even the stationery, designed by sottsass. 

images via sotheby’s international realty

the two-storey maui abode comprises rectilinear boxes of various colours contained within a black frame and punctuated by a red gabled tower. inside a mixture of oakwood floors and wool carpets are the base for interiors featuring totemic storage, accented with bright, saturated colors, a main characteristic of the memphis style. set over 2,748 square feet, the home features three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms, decorated with colorful and unusual details including romanesque arched doorways and cartoonish furnishings. 

the house has two fireplaces, one gas and one wood burning. it features 11-foot ceilings on the first floor and 9-foot ceilings on the second level, which holds all three bedrooms. the property also includes a 1,500-square-foot wooden deck with a spa, a private courtyard paved in italian terracotta tiles, and a 520-square foot steel garage, with an electric-car charging station.

casa olableunaga is one of seven residences designed by ettore sottsass and one of only three built in the US. it was commissioned by its current owners, lesley bailey—founder of jewelry and accessories brand ACME Studio—and her husband, adrian olabuenaga, whom the house takes its name after. the two-level abode is nestled on the top of a gently sloping 3,400-foot-high hill in maui’s sought-after kula district, and overlooks the pacific ocean, as well as four smaller islands.

sottsass also designed the landscape which is based on permaculture theory, a system of agricultural and social design principles centered around simulating the patterns of natural ecosystems. these gardens, which include a ‘tiny little forest’ obscuring the home from the street level, and a small pond in the backyard, inspired by the shape of a tylenol pill, have been faithfully maintained to his vision.

casa olabeunaga is currently being listed for $9,800,000 via island sotheby’s international realty. the sottsass-designed décor as well as the art featured in the property are available for purchase as a separate sale to the home’s buyer.