Hawaii's architecture often reflects its environment.
Hawaii has been a hub of tourist activity for centuries, which has played a role in the formation of its architecture. Homes have evolved from simple grass huts to complicated houses that often incorporate the state's magnificent environment. Hawaiian architecture is a symbol to the culture of the islands, which puts its people at one with nature.
Golden Age
The 1920s and '30s are referred to by the Hawaiian Department of Land and Natural Resources as the state's golden age of architecture. At the time, Hawaii had a rigid sense of place in the world. Hawaiians took pride in their environment and incorporated it into the designs of many homes. The cottages first developed by C.W. Dickey used a simple design that included screened lanais, lava rock footings and columns, and double-pitched hip roofs.
Niumalu Hotel
Completed in 1927, the Niumalu Hotel caught on to Dickey's incorporation of the environment. Soon after, entire residential neighborhoods adopted the style, which eventually evolved to include large sliding and casement windows. These provided homeowners with a broad view of the surrounding environment, whether magnificent beaches and ocean or picturesque mountains. Oriental-style motifs and tropical plantings were also incorporated.
Openness
Hawaiian architecture is focused on openness of space due to the scenery that has made the islands one of the world's great tourist destinations. Each room in many homes seamlessly flows into the next. And because of Hawaii's warm climate, nature is incorporated as well. Open trellises or open walkways with flat roofs extend throughout many homes. The integration of the environment often extends to the use of water in the form of pools and spas.
Evolution
Hawaii has its share of sovereign design, with much of the modern construction resembling that found on the United States mainland. The designs, like many styles of architecture, have evolved from simple to complicated. Ancient Hawaiians built simple huts and shacks, often made simply with straw. These straw huts are called hale, and can still be found throughout the state.
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