PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The inaugural 2017 Building Voices Design Competition was a single stage international design competition seeking innovative solutions that addressed Hawai‘i’s unique geographic location, cultural richness, global visibility, and ecological diversity.

DESIGNED FOR

The BVDC was created for the inaugural Building Voices Festival for the University of Hawai‘i Community Design Center and the UHM SoA.

Competition Partners: AIA Honolulu, ASLA Hawai‘i, APA Hawai‘i, AIAS Hawai‘i, US Green Building Council of Hawai‘i, University of Hawai‘i Office of Sustainability.

IMPACT

Events: Public announcement moderated by Xavier Vendrell, Professor and Chair of the Graduate Program, Auburn University Rural Studio. Pop-up exhibit at the Hawai‘i State Capitol, April 22, 2017.

Mentioned in: Hawai‘i Public Radio, Bustler, Competitions.org, Khon2 TV, Big Island Now, Honolulu Magazine, Flux Hawaii, Dezeen and Dwell Magazine.

Presented at: The 18th Annual Pacific Building Trade Expo, Honolulu, HI 2017.

COMPETITION BRIEF

Design solutions were to address multiple topic areas, including: Housing for All, Food Autonomy, Resource Independence, Community Centered Mobility and Healthy Citizens. Each entry was evaluated with four sustainability lenses: Social, Ecological, Economic and Indigenous Culture.

The competition sought new ideas for buildings, environments, landscapes, community programs, infrastructures, product designs, network concepts, service design offerings, transportation solutions, among others. It was free and open to all designers: students and professionals, including architects, landscape architects, urban planners, engineers, service designers, graphic designers, industrial designers, artists, inventors and citizens alike.

Invited Jury

Clement Blanchet, Clement Blanchet Architecture Studio
Rebecca Buck, Amazon Web Services
Aljosa Dekleva, Dekleva Gregoric Architects
Joseph Ferraro FAIA, Ferraro Choi Architects
Helaoha Johnston, Honolulu Museum of Art
T. Annie Nguyen, United States Digital Service
Andrew Tang, City and County of Honolulu
Daniel Vasini, West 8
Xavier Vendrell, Rural Studio (Jury Chair)
Alisa Weinstein, Uber
Kuha'o Zane, Sig Zane Kaiao

FIRST PLACE AWARD

'Outside House'

by Erin Moore / FLOAT Architectural Research and Design

'Outside House' is an example of using design to make a place where the land comes first. It is two small pavilions, the “mauka” and the “makai”, that structure space for living outside on agricultural land in upcountry Maui. 

Both pavilions are demountable. The steel frame is fabricated as a kit out of pieces that can each be lifted by two people, erected without heavy equipment, and bolted into place. 

Living outside has health benefits for people of all ages: lowered stress, improved circadian rhythms, increased physical activity, exposure to plant and soil microbiota, and access to local plant foods. Possible models for land stewardship for urban and agricultural sites include habitat restoration at all scales, community land trusts, conservation easements, and permaculture. 

The Outside House can be fitted with rainwater collection, solar panels, and a composting toilet for complete self-sufficiency. Integration into an ecological whole has immeasurable value.

Photography by Tom Takata

Photography by Olivier Koning