Mork-Ulnes Architects treated this Hawaiian island home to views of its lush tropical gardens, turning the home in on itself to elevate its sense of privacy and solitude. Despite its location on the island of Oahu with the charms of Kailua Beach a short walk away, the densely populated neighborhood led the architects to design the home its back turned to the Pacific, which could only be glimpsed between neighboring buildings in the distance. In prioritizing privacy and a connection to location’s rich vegetation, the home is more secluded island retreat than typical beachside residence.
The home is organized around a simple, pavilion-like two-storey volume which contains the main living spaces and bedrooms. Living spaces were designed with the climate and comfort in mind, with white tiled floors, white ceilings and walls, and pale timber accents and furnishings embracing mellow neutrals. Separate from the main house, a lanai serves as the social heart of the home. Between the two structures, a swimming pool creates an azure, linear dividing line, its water partially sheltered beneath a grass-covered roof. An outdoor bathroom, office, kitchen and tearoom, are arranged in corners of the lanai, the arrangement of rooms encouraging the creation of a meaningful indoor/outdoor lifestyle.
While the home already faces a lushly planted garden, the plan is that over time, the density of the foliage increases, intertwining itself with the architecture to emphasize the home’s private oasis sensibility.
Photography © Joe Fletcher