olson kundig's 'hale lana' house in hawaii embraces its natural habitat

designed by olson kundig, this expansive family retreat in hawaii takes the form of several canopy-like pavilions that encourage a close relationship with the natural world. named ‘hale lana’, which translates to ‘floating home’, the residence is informed by its island context with elevated wooden lanais used to connect the dwelling. ‘hale lana’s roof picks up on the local hawaiian vernacular, where large canopy roofs gather prevailing trade wind breezes and keep them moving through the building,’ explains tom kundig, design principal at olson kundig. ‘however, this project takes that idea to a new level structurally with a very long cantilever and an extremely precise leading roof edge.’

all images by nic lehoux

olson kundig’s design, intended to feel like ‘a canopy on the hawaiian landscape’, appears to hover over the site’s lava fields and dense gardens. the entry approach winds through a densely landscaped area with large trees and berms before opening to a view through the house to maui in the distance. the main residence is wrapped in sliding window walls opening to covered lanais which link to the home’s other four buildings: the cabana, the master suite, the guest suite, and the garage.

cantilevered double-pitch roofs create deep canopies, allowing the pavilions to open completely to ocean breezes while being protecting from solar gain. operable shutter screens let the family tune each building to changing environmental conditions, adjusting to the desired degree of sun, air, and privacy. rock walls in many of the pavilions extend outdoors, connecting the home to the kona landscape. meanwhile, custom-designed furniture and interior elements throughout complement the architecture with subtle hawaiian references.

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project info:

name: hale lana
location: hawaii, USA
project size: 17,211 sqf / 1,599 sqm

architect: olson kundig
project team: tom kundig, FAIA, RIBA, design principal; todd matthes, project manager; katherine ranieri, project architect; gregory nakata, architectural staff; debbie kennedy, LEED® AP ID+C, interior design; amanda chenoweth, kathy hanway, maresa patterson and crisanna siegert, interior design staff
key consultants: schuchart/dow, general contractor; kona wai engineering, civil engineer; MCE structural consultants, structural engineer; WSP, mechanical and electrical engineer; david y. tamura associates, landscape architect; niteo lighting, lighting design; kai pono builders, pool consultant; spearhead inc., steel & timber fabrication consultant
photography: nic lehoux