Project Name/Client: Architects Hawaii, Ltd
Design Firm: Architects Hawaii, Ltd
Location: Honolulu, HI
Products: Custom

What is Design?
Integration and inspiration. Design is thoughtful integration of solutions to the complex weave of the owner’s needs and dreams. Design is ignited by inspiration, often mysterious, appearing in the mind’s eye, that elevates solution to delight.

How is Design best illustrated through the project?
Design in this project is best illustrated by the integration at all scales of the three guiding principals for the project and for our firm: Design Firm + Modern + Ohana (Hawaiian for family and welcoming). On the largest scale, Design Firm and Modern informed the collaboration and communication elements of the design, and the architectural forms. Ohana comes through with textures, patterns, color and transparent materials. The custom design for the carpet embodies all of these principals with the combination of a custom pattern and palette that integrate a tropical botanical design with the bold contemporary bands of Shaw’s dressed2kill.

Biggest Design Challenge?
This project is the complete redesign of our own offices, delivered while we continued to work in the spaces. While it was certainly challenging to work amid the disruptions and distractions of construction, the biggest challenge was delivering a design that met the immense array of requirements from 100 design professionals. We began with an inclusive charrette process open to the entire firm. Through this process, we developed our triad of guiding principals: Design Firm + Modern + Ohana. Openness, flexibility, adherence to the guiding principals, and a sense of humor carried us to a successful conclusion.

What made it Innovative or Unique?
The process wasn't unique for Architects Hawaii - it included listening to the needs of the client, proposing creative integrated solutions, responding to client concerns and discoveries, seeing the design through to the last detail, and managing budget, schedule and contractor. What was unique was having client and designer be the same firm, living with each other every day through the process, continually receiving new information and ideas, and allowing the design to evolve.

How did Design make a difference?
A primary goal for this design is to facilitate ever better collaboration and communication. The structure of the space encourages the full range of meeting, from ad-hoc one-on-one meetings to spontaneous design team collaboration to formal client presentations. Even before these spaces were completely finished, teams were naturally drawn to them, demonstrating that the design of the space can support creative interaction. Another measure of design impact is that people are expressing their pleasure in the new design, even in the wake of the construction process. Being proud of one’s own work environment is vital to satisfied and stimulated design professionals.

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