- Interior
- Architecture & development
The American studio Walker Warner Architects is no stranger to Imagicasa. With previous projects House of Flowers and Oak Woodland Residence they already managed to conquer our hearts. Kua Bay, a project in Hawaii developed in collaboration with NICOLEHOLLIS and Lutsko Associates, is certainly not inferior. The inspiration for this residence was the wild, volcanic environment and its proximity to the ocean.
Kua Bay is a holiday home on the coast of Kailua in the American state of Hawaii. The design of the property is based on the Hawaiian notion of Mauka-Makai meaning the current or movement between the interior and the ocean. Starting from this symbolism, Walker Warner Architects in collaboration with interior architect Nicole Hollis and the landscape architects at Lutsko Associates created a design in which you can fully experience the beauty and power of the location. 
The driveway carved out of the lava stone formations creates a dramatic entrance.
The driveway of the building cuts through four and a half metre high lava stone formations. The garage and guesthouse are also integrated into these rocks. This creates a natural visual shield and a dramatic entrance. Corten steel panels further screen off the property and lead to the courtyard garden. The use of an inner garden optimises the connection with the environment while ensuring maximum privacy. In order to blend the boundary between the inside and the outside, the architects and landscape architects opted for raised trees and protruding lava rocks that are mirrored in various ponds. 
The building has a horizontal formality that is reflected by the straight sea level. Large windows connect the view to the courtyard garden so it can be admired at all times. To counteract an excess of sunlight, the architects use wooden screens with horizontal slats. The vertical variant can be found in House of Flowers and Oak Woodland Residence. Coincidence or not? 
The entire project exudes a luxurious holiday feeling where the client can enjoy nature with all the comforts of modern life within reach. Walker Warner Architects, NICOLEHOLLIS and Lutsko Associates deliver a fine piece of architecture that radiates unity in every aspect. 
Photography by Douglas Friedman, Laure Joliet and Marion Brenner