Graham Hart
 

Architect, Co-Founder, @grmhrt

Graham Hart is an O‘ahu architect, co-founder of Kokomo Studio, and curator at the Ossipoff Cabin. Graham serves as vice-president of Docomomo US Hawai‘i Chapter, co-chaired the 2019 National Docomomo Symposium, serves on the Hawai‘i Historic Places Review Board, and taught at UH School of Architecture from 2018-2024. Graham graduated from UH Mānoa with distinction in 2015, with his Doctorate of Architecture. His dissertation was entitled Tropical Modern Residential Architecture: Elements, Vocabulary and Language, where he cataloged and researched modernism from around the tropics in over 300 pages of text and diagrams. Graham’s professional and academic research work focuses on mid-century architecture in the tropics, where Graham has documented forgotten modern gems and led restoration and education efforts for buildings of this period. Currently, between balancing academia and practice, Graham is working on renovating his 1970s open-air apartment in Makiki.

personal research

Tropical Modern Residential Architecture: Elements, Vocabulary, and Language

Earned a Doctorate of Architecture D.Arch from the University of Hawai‘i, 2015

Mid-Century Hawai‘i Residential Architecture

documentation along with over 1000 photographs taken of prized and forgotten mid-century residential architecture in Hawai’i. Instagram

Vladimir Ossipoff’s Pālehua Cabin

curator (2024) and documentation of Vladimir Ossipoff’s Pālehua cabin that he designed for himself and his family, which was recently restored after seventy years by the Gill Family. Article Link. Video Link.

The Work of Japanese Metabolist in Hawai’i

documentation of the work of Kenzo Tange, Sachio Otani, Kiyonori Kikutake, and Kishio Kurokawa’s work either in, or about, Hawai’i. Video Link

The Work of Edwin Bauer

ongoing research of the work of Honolulu mid-century architect Edwin L Bauer, who specialized in low-cost multi-family housing for the tropics. Video Link 1, 2, 3

The Wimberly Residence

documentation of George “Pete” Wimberly’s experimental Mānoa residence, its story, and its iterative adaptations to its micro-climate.

The Snyder Residence

documentation of Syd Snyder’s, long time partner of Vladimir Ossipoff, personal residence showcasing the careful detailing and environmental design of their office’s work. Video Link

publications and speaking engagements

Ossipoff Cabin, 11/2023

World of Interiors

Aloha, Modernism!, by Adam Štěch, 4/2023

Modern Luxury Hawaii

Little Luxuries, Photos for Good Lamp Co, 3-4/2023

Into the Woods, by Ijfke Ridgley, 9-10/2022

Designed for Paradise, 12/2021-1/2022

Docomomo US/Colorado

Oahu’s Mid-Century Modernist Masters, 1/2023

Cabin Chronicals, Magnolia Network

Season 3, Ossipoff Cabin, 12/2022

Hana Hou! Magazine

Remote Work, By Timothy Schuler, 12/2022

The Architect’s Retreat, By Martha Cheng, 8/2022

Adventurer’s Club

Vladimir Ossipoff and his Pālehua Cabin, 11/2022

Magazine B

Vol.91, Hawaii, Ossipoff’s Cabin, Hidden Gems, 10/2022

New York Times Style Magazine, 8/2022

A Painter’s Home That Celebrates Hawaii, By Matthew Dekneef

Mid-Century Modern Architecture: Adapting to a changing Hawai‘i, 7/2022

Liljestrand Foundation, Design Conversation Series:

Architecture that Moves, 3/2022

Essential Hawaii Modernists, 5/2022

O’ahu’s Mid Century Residential Architecture, 8/2022

PBS Hawaii, Home is Here, 3/2022

Episode 2

Ossipoff Cabin

Docomomo International Conference in Tokyo 2020+1, 9/2021

The Work of Japanese Metabolists in Hawai‘i

Talkstory Presentation at the Ossipoff Cabin, 7/2021

YAF Pau Hana Series Presenter, 4/2021

Ossipoff Cabin

Building Voices Symposium: Foresight it 20/20, 11/2020

Crafting the Contemporary Vernacular

Docomomo Hawai‘i 2020 Tour Day virtual tours, 10/2020

Hawaii Hochi, Kenzo Tange, 1972

HECO Ward Ave, Steven Au, 1971

Hawaii Loa Campus, Gin Wong, 1971

HGEA, Takashi Anbe, 1970

Jean Charlot Foundation Annual Meeting Speaker, 10/2019

History of the Charlot Residence, designed by Pete Wimberly

Docomomo US National Symposium Speaker, 9/2019

Hawaii Modernism Overview

WATG Greenday Presenter, 8/2019

Passive Design Strategies in Mid-Century Hawai‘i Architecture

ThinkTech Hawai‘i

Edwin Bauer Vol 4, 7/2019

Edwin Bauer Vol 3, 1/2019

Sid Snyder, 8/2018

Edwin Bauer Vol 2, 5/2018

Book Contributor, 5/2019

E ho'i ka u'i : perspectives on placemaking in Hawai'i, Edited by Kelsy M. Y. Jorgensen

SHADE Institute Guest Juror, 2/2019

AIA Honolulu Film Event Panelist, 10/2018

SHADE Institute Speaker, 7/2018

Pechakucha Hawaii Presenter, 2017

AIA Honolulu Panelist, 2014

Paper Architecture Night Presenter, 2013

National Conference on the Beginning Design Student at Temple University, 2013

Sogetsu Ikebana: an Eastern Influence on Beginning Design

 

affiliations

Ossipoff Cabin, Pālehua Conservation Initiative, Curator 2023-present

Hawaii Historic Places Review Board, 2022-present

DOCOMOMO_US Hawai‘i Chapter, 2016-present

Vice-President (President Elect) 2024-2025, 2017-2018

President 2018-2020

National Symposium Co-Chair 2019

Director of Events 2016-2017

The Liljestrand Foundation Advisory Board 2019-present

AIA Member 2015-present

AIAS Hawai‘i Chapter

President 2013-2014

West Quad Conference Chair 2013

Director of Events 2012-2013

HAF Ex-Officio Board Member 2013-2014

Ossipoff Document Restoration Project Director 2013

awards & distinctions

Docomomo US 2021 Modernism in America Awards

Award of Excellence, Pālehua Cabin and Guest Cottage

IIDA Ho‘ohuli Awards 2019

Dine Award given to MBC Kihei Restaurant

Work featured in the Kagu Akari show at Fishcake, 10/2019

Cite Mill Prototype B

AIA Honolulu 2018 Design Awards, 11/2018

Award of Merit given to MBC Kihei Restaurant

Licensed Architect in Hawai‘i, 3/2018

AIA Film Challenge 2016, Albezia

Finalist

AIA Film Challenge 2015, Mixed Plate Hawaii

People’s Choice Winner

Third Place Winner

Diversity and Inclusion Award

presented at the 2016 Chicago Architecture Biennial

presented at the 2016 AIA Convention in Philadelphia

Hawai‘i Architecture Foundation, 2015

Award of Distinction in Architectural Research