Olson Kundig has completed a family home in Hanalei, Hawaii, whose facade is almost entirely wrapped in operable shutter screens. The screens let the house shift between open and closed, so the line between indoor and outdoor living changes with the weather and the time of day.
A facade that opens and closes
The custom shutter system is made of cedar set in a steel framework. When it is open, views and breezes pass straight through the house. When it is closed, it protects the interior from harsh weather and secures the house while the family is away.
Each part of the house uses its own type of screen. In front of the bedrooms, sliding wood screens open to give uninterrupted views. Over the kitchen, dining and living room, vertical shutters flip upwards to reveal the open-plan space and its views of Hanalei Bay and the mountains Hihimanu, Namolokama and Mamalahoa.
Living on the lanai
Wood floors continue from the living room onto an exterior lanai, which seems to float like a raft above the landscape. The house also has a garage that works as a toy box for surfboards and other recreational gear, with an outdoor shower next to it.
Birch and wood inside
Inside, Japanese birch wall panelling and wood floors run through the rooms. They tie the interior to its natural setting and give a calm, neutral backdrop for the furniture. A stair of wood and metal links the levels.
As a general point, movable screens give a house in a warm climate several modes: open for air and views, or closed for shade, storms and security.
Project credits
- Project: House in Hanalei, Hawaii
- Architect: Olson Kundig
- Project team: Tom Kundig (Design Principal), Bob Jakubik (Project Manager), Joe Filippelli (Project Architect), Laina Navarro (Interior Design), Phil Turner (Gizmo Design)
- General contractor: DeCamp Construction
- Structural engineer: Monte Clark Engineering
- Interior design: Shawback Design
- Landscape architect: Lutsko Associates
- Lighting design: O-LLC
- Photography: Aaron Leitz
- Source: Contemporist