Kua Bay Residence / Walker Warner Architects

Situated along a rugged stretch of coastline, the family retreat embraces the spirit of Mauka-Makai—the symbolic flow of lava from mountain to sea—through its direct connections to the volcanic landscape and dramatic vistas of the Pacific Ocean. Kua Bay Residence’s site captures the stark contrasts between land and sea in the Hawaiian topography. On the mountainside of the property, dark lava formations create a dramatic backdrop. On the ocean side, the immediate adjacency to the turquoise oceanfront makes you feel as if you are standing on the edge of the earth. The challenge was to manipulate the site so that the buildings would blend with the landscape while providing a graceful and multi-layered experience from the mountain to the sea.