Concrete

The defining gesture of a house on the Big Island of Hawaii by architect Craig Steely is a 139-foot-long, four-foot-tall concrete beam spanning the roof.

The west patio, enclosed by a concrete retaining wall, is designed for outdoor living and overlooks the surrounding forest.

Deborah models a face in clay in her workshop, located a few steps from the house.

The architects made sure to step back the upper-level addition so as not to overwhelm the scale of the surrounding neighborhood. Plus, "If we build on top of it, and try to make it a new and larger box, it will falsify the identity,

Whether it’s cross-country skiing in the winter or trail running in the summer, the 330-foot home’s minimalist design encourages Catherine to be outside in the surrounding landscape throughout the year.

The concrete flooring is complemented by maple plywood walls, creating a warm, neutral interior.

Floor-to-ceiling glazing and a linear skylight help welcome the landscape within the cabin’s small footprint.

The open kitchen boasts a burnt-cement floor with a playful pink pigmentation, which the architect and Flavia collaborated on together.

A stainless steel, wall-mounted sink appears to float, as does the steel shelf below, and the pipes are hidden in the wall.

The board-form concrete of the support helps to frame the built-in shelving.

Extra-wide concrete pillars help to support the studio at its core.

Located on the ground level, the kitchen and main living space are open to the elements. Large sliding doors pocket into the wall cavity, providing a seamless connection to the coast. Skylights allow natural light to filter into the space while providing glimpses to the green roof above. A horizontal window provides a snapshot to the rugged, mountainous terrain. The linear kitchen leads along a circulation spine, which connects to the more private areas.

A bridge connects the home’s two volumes, which are divided between private and public spaces. The private spaces are protected through a series of screens and shading devices, while the main public living spaces are fluidly open to the outdoors.