Secret Agent

"In the rain-rich beach town of Kailua – specifically Haiku, nestled in the lush Valley Isle of Maui – a new residence by HIOG - Hawaii Off Grid reimagines what it means to live sustainably in the islands. Located on Maui’s windward side, where misty trade winds and dense greenery define the landscape, the Kailua Residence is perfectly situated to engage with both the beauty and the intensity of the natural environment. With a striking roofline and a minimalist form, the home is a study in resilient, site-specific design—crafted not just to withstand the elements, but to work harmoniously with them."

Thank you for the great feature, Design Milk!

Full story: https://design-milk.com/a-maui-home-blends-modern-minimalism-with-climate-conscious-design/

Vista Woods Apartments is a new 179-unit affordable senior housing community in Pinole, CA. Designed by Bell Design Group, this four-story development prioritizes dignity, sustainability, and connection for aging residents.

Set on a challenging sloped site, Vista Woods takes advantage of the terrain to create dynamic massing and a breezeway stair that brings light and air into the building. The design draws inspiration from the natural landscape with color accents that reflect the bay, wooded hillsides, and golden California terrain.

Learn more: https://www.belldesigngroup.com/affordable-housing/vista-woods

A Maui company is creating a sustainable way to build homes by using surfboard scraps.

Surf Block Maui is located in the Lahaina Cannery. Founder David Sellers says he was inspired by nearby surfboard manufacturers.

“Ten years ago when we started our architecture firm and we had an office in this building, we would go out to the dumpster and we’d find dumpsters full of styrofoam, the scraps for making surfboards,” Sellers explained.

https://buff.ly/hFFWxRt

"On Maui’s North Shore, inside an industrial building that was once a pineapple cannery, an architecture office sits across the hall from a surfboard manufacturer. When the architects first moved in, they noticed something: Every few days, the dumpsters in the back would fill up with scraps of foam from making the boards.

David Sellers, one of the architects, realized that the foam could be used in a building material—insulated blocks that are typically made from a mix of concrete and new polystyrene foam. “I was just like, ‘We shouldn’t be throwing this away,’” says Sellers, principal architect at the firm, Hawaii Off Grid. “We live on an island, with limited space. So how can we use this to make houses?""

HIOG - Hawaii Off Grid is using foam scraps to make insulated blocks for housing—a solution that’s actually stronger and more energy efficient than the original. Learn more via Fast Company.

In Maui, architects are turning surfboard waste into new housing Hawaii Off Grid is using foam scraps to make insulated blocks for housing—a solution that's actually stronger and more energy efficient than the original.