Questions for Kimo: My Realtor showed me a property designed by Ossipoff, who is he? My Realtor could only tell me he was a renowned architect in Hawaii.
I love discussing Ossipoff, Hawaii's Master of modernism
Vladimir Ossipoff (1907-1998)was Russian born, raised in Japan and educated at Berkley, California. He is widely regarded as Hawaii's master of modernism and is accredited with over 1000 completed works . After settling in Hawaii in 1931, Ossipoff began a prolific architectural career that spanned 67 years; essentially defining tropical modernism as we understand it today.
He defined modern Hawaii
Ossipoff used his understanding of both western and eastern building techniques to amalgamate the environment into his modern design aesthetic. Essentially utilizing Hawaii's diverse micro climates in his designs, bringing the out of doors in and the in-doors, out; taking full advantage of the natural settings, views, and culture to create functioning habitats in harmony with nature way before 'Green Building' was coined. He was also known for his "War on Ugliness" which was his personal crusade to rid rigid, poor and aesthetically lacking design from both the private and public sectors. Ossipoff designed everything from homes, schools, churches, to corporate HQs, private clubs, and airport terminals. My personal favorite is the Outrigger Canoe Club in Diamond Head.
The Outrigger is a classic post & lintel construction that opens almost entirely to the out of doors. A Hau tree canopy covers the roof with a dense green vegetation that is both a natural cooling agent for the building and an aesthetically pleasing living element as well.
The glass doors in the Dinning room can form intimate dinning space's or open up to form one large area open to the ocean. If on the rare occasion bad weather should make an appearance closing the outer doors keeps the Dinning room always functioning.
photo by stephen reid
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