ka‘apuni bungalow 01
Unbuilt: 2024
Prompted with scenes of a “day in the life” for these prospective home owners, we explored concepts for their beach front property in Kailua, O‘ahu.
Starting with the family coming back from the beach and taking the sandy path home. The path splits, one way going up to the house, and the other to the rec area. An outdoor seating platform sits above the landscape with views towards the ocean. Surfboards and placed where they belong, wet suits are thrown into the mudroom for rinsing off later, and showers are taken to rinse off the salt and sand. After warming up in the sauna, and alternating with hops in the cold plunge, the kids jump in the pool, and Dad makes himself a cup of coffee before heading to his study to relax with a book. The kid’s friends come over to play in the pool, while the adults enjoy a drink in the shade. The sand pit doubles as an outdoor theater. It’s already 4pm, so the friends might as well stay for dinner. The grill is fired up while dinner is prepped. The parents sit and chat till late at night in the solarium with views towards the ocean, while the kids play video games until they fall asleep on the couch. In the morning, the kids play basketball in the motor court with the neighbors’ kids, while family from out of town pull up with their families. The separate guest house makes it comfortable for everyone - especially when they’re up at early adjusting to the time difference. Because their space is separate, it’s easy for them to stay for several weeks or even a month. The home has many social areas where people feel welcome to visit for a coffee, an afternoon, or a month. It’s a place where hosting is easy and a burden on no one. A place with spark, whimsy and personality to it. Some breathtaking moments are reserved just for the parents, like the morning sun peaking through screens in the primary bedroom, with private views towards the ocean, framed off in the distance. Lush tropical gardens soak up the frequent rain storms of Kailua, and the layering of the buildings block the driving winds off the ocean.
