Hale Mau’u
Walker Warner
Recipient
Nestled comfortably in the towering grasses, the home fully embraces the quiet beauty of the landscape, suggesting the illusion of isolation amongst the lacy leaves of the Kiawe trees.
A boardwalk floats respectfully above ground, marking the pathway from the mountains above to blue waters beyond. Clustered loosely around a lush, grassy courtyard, the hale form a small village that offers protection from the blowing trade winds.
Rooftop valleys and hillside peaks create stunning moments of convergence, while gables and eaves greet each other with bends and bows. Copper-cladding, with its standing seams, appears pragmatic and uniform, yet exudes a subtle organic quality, reminiscent of the texture of a towering coconut palm.
Movable wooden doors welcome the landscape inside when fully open, allowing fresh air to slip through openings between the horizontal planks when closed. And at night, the same perforations emit a soft glow, turning the buildings into lanterns in the landscape.