Wai’olu Residence is a 13,497-square-foot home designed for an extended family by de Reus Architects, located on Hawaii’s North Kohala Coast.

Description
Overlooking coastal anchialine ponds where ancient Hawai?ians raised fish, this 13,497-square-foot home for an extended family was designed so that all its major living spaces capture views of Uluweuweu Bay and Kikaua Point. The name Wai?olu comes from the Hawai?ian words wai (fresh water) and olu (pleasant) and means cool, attractive, soft, and gentle.
The design of this home was inspired by the writings of John Ruskin and the art of William Morris, proponents of the Arts and Crafts movement. At its philosophical root, the movement was invested in the essence of the human spirit, utilitarian values, rustic simplicity, and the use of handcraft, natural materials, and allied arts. The owners of Wai?olu Residence desired that their home be designed in this same spirit. The design also needed to accommodate a contemporary lifestyle and sensibilities. The home?s entry vestibule is understated and compressed to a low scale with a simple cedar beam ceiling. The enlarged volume of the entry, with its timber-frame trusses, adds drama to the sense of arrival. The dining area, living area, and kitchen are casually grouped under one roof. A partial-height coral stone wall sets the dining area apart from the living area and kitchen.
Transition spaces such as the entry, lanais, foyer are an impo...