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Hawaii Modernism Context Study

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1 Executive Summary

This report presents historical research on the built environment in Hawaii during the “Modern”period of 1939 to 1979, with an emphasis on the years between 1947 to 1967. The studysummarizes information about the architectural history, leading practitioners, urban planning,significant historic and cultural influences, and relationship to national and international movementsspecific to the resources of the Hawaiian Islands.

The framework provided in this study for the identification and evaluation of buildings, structures andlandscapes associated with the modern movement in Hawaii may be utilized by Hawaii’spreservation professionals to advance the dialogue with the community about significant buildings,districts, sites and structures. Additional recommendations for future efforts that strive to preservemodern era resources are included in this report.

Hawaii experienced profound changes between 1939 and 1979 primarily from America’s entry intoWorld War II and resulting effects from that historic event. The territory emerged as the fiftieth stateand political power shifted from a Republican run government to Democratic one. Concurrently,Hawaii’s main industry transitioned from large-scale agriculture to tourism. The population boomspurred related development so extensive that the only period in Hawaii’s history which may haveexperienced more dramatic change was the half century or so after the initial introduction ofwestern culture.

In this study, Hawaii’s modern architecture, engineering and design are placed within both a localand national context. The influences of Gropius, Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier, Mendelsohn,Saarinen, and Frank Lloyd Wright are noted. A range of forms are identified, including streamlinedmoderne and art deco through Miesian International Style, Modern Expressionism, mid-centurymodern, Brutalism, Neo- Formalism, Metabolism, as well as Googie, Tiki, contractor modern orranch house, and other popular variations. Hawaii examples of the various styles are presentedalong with an overview history.

The resources in Hawaii that are the subject of this report included several building types developedthrough urban, resort and suburban planning efforts or public works projects. The context reportalso addresses the development of parks and landscape design, and the utilization of modernmaterials and technologies including air conditioning, aluminum doors, jalousie windows, brise-soliels, concrete masonry units (CMU), pre-cast and pre-stressed concrete, canec and terrazzo.Over fifty prominent architects, artists and designers are profiled. Works by nationally knownarchitects such as I.M. Pei, Edward Killingsworth, Minoru Yamasaki, Skidmore Owings Merrill, JohnCarl Warnecke, Cesar Pelli, and Roger Lee are highlighted.

Private residences are not directly addressed in this study because of their wide variety andenormous numbers, and the fact that government control over this resource is negligible. The topicis briefly examined under subdivision planning. From the case study of Niu Valley, it appears a largenumber of post-war tract houses no longer retain their integrity, but without an intensive inventoryeffort, it will be difficult to develop a useful context for this property type.

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In addition to examining modern architecture in Hawaii, major highway projects such as the Pali,Likelike, Lunalilo and Kahekili Highways are discussed along with the interstate highway program inHawaii. The report summarizes highway projects on the neighbor islands the development of theWailuku-Lahaina highway, Hilo-Hamakua highway, Queen Kahaamanu Highway, and therealignment of Kauai’s belt road. The disposal of garbage, as embodied in incinerators and sanitarylandfills, is also considered as is the development of parking structures to accommodate theincreased number of automobiles. Other automobile-related property types such as servicestations, junk yards and artificial reefs are also addressed. Other public utilities which needed toexpand to meet growing population needs, such as sewers, water supply, and flood control are alsoexamined in this report.

Parks projects, including the development of public golf courses, botanical gardens and streetplanting programs are also addressed, and a brief look at landscape trends from a national andHawaii perspective is included.

Summary of Types of Buildings

LOW AND MID-RISE COMMERCIAL AND OFFICE BUILDINGSLow rise business buildings and apartments are identified as the modern resource mostendangered, as many sit on lands which can be developed more intensely. Some of the acclaimedbuildings from this time period such as the Garden Court office building have already beendemolished to allow for denser developments. These buildings often reflect distinctive Mid-CenturyModern features such as contrasting textures, decorative sun screens or other features todistinguish these rentable spaces.

SHOPPING CENTERS, MALLS AND SUPER MARKETSShopping centers are identified as an endangered resource since this building type is often changedthrough remodeling. While individual shops and interiors of shopping centers should be acceptedas modified through time, exterior integrity should be the issue. A number of the smaller shoppingcenters in Hawaii display high degrees of Mid-Century Modern elements especially in the use of newstructural technology such as folded plate or thin-shell concrete roofs.

LOW RISE, WALK-UP APARTMENTSNumerous examples of this building type are excellent Mid-Century Modern resources that useconcrete masonry units as decorative screens and for structure. There are also numerousexamples of quickly constructed housing that result from the post-World War II population boom.Zoning laws which periodically change and the potential for higher density make a number of theseresources endangered. Thus, attention was given to distinguishing some high preservationresources in this building type.

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LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSINGThere are 47 housing projects that date from the period 1952-1979 due to the serious housingshortage from population growth after World War II. While the history of public housing in Hawaiiduring this period is documented in this report, an inventory was not conducted and thus it will bedifficult to make any preservation recommendations for this building type. It should be noted thatthere are three separate projects designed by master architects C.W. Dickey, John Warnecke andCesar Pelli.

HIGH RISE BUILDINGSThe boom in population caused high rise development almost exclusively in Waikiki and DowntownHonolulu due to zoning laws, scarcity of land and the passage of the condominium law. The highrise building type has many examples that are often called concrete boxes. A regional modernfeature is lanai, many of which have subsequently been enclosed. Some of the high end officebuildings in downtown endeavored to capture the latest design trends such as the Brutalistic Bankof Hawaii building and plaza.

EDUCATIONAL AND GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDINGSNotable government buildings were developed at this time including the impressive State Capitolbuilding. There are also government buildings rendered in a more straight-forward modern style butare associated with the expansion of the government work force to meet the needs of Hawaii’sgrowing population. The State Historic Preservation Division has the most authority over propertiesunder the administration of the state and county governments, providing for more opportunities forpreservation planning for these properties.

HOTELS AND RESORTSThis time period sees a dramatic explosion in the tourist industry and thus this building type. Whilesome buildings in Waikiki represent the “mass not class” mentality, there are numerousdevelopments which tried to capture the sense of place that is Hawaii, often a romanticized versionof Hawaii perpetuated in the memories of the military personnel who spent time in Hawaii. Anumber of these low rise hotels are threatened by the zoning and development issues.

RELIGIOUS BUILDINGSWhile there are a number of outstanding religious structures in Hawaii utilizing the new technologyof the era, there are also numerous humble chapels throughout Hawaii. One of the consequencesof suburbanization is a need for smaller churches to accommodate smaller congregations spreadthroughout the state. On the other end of the spectrum are the churches symbolic of theircommunity and beliefs which are highly expressionistic, such as Buddhist temples which wereallowed to flourish after World War II.

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CITY AND COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION BUILDINGSThese modest structures, especially park rest rooms, are highlighted as a building type. Many ofthese types are well designed and reflective of the islands, but easily overlooked because of theirmodest scale and function.

1910 1930 1940 1960-70◄………..DE STIJL…….…...►

◄..STRUCTURALISM..◄….METABOLISTMOVEMENT (JAPAN)

1910 1920 1928-29 1930 1943-59 1950-56 1956-62 1962Adolf Loos: Steiner House, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe: Le Corbusier: Villa Savoye, Albert Kahn: Ford Motor Frank Llyod Wright: Le Corbusier: Chandigarh Eero Saarinen: TWA Louis Kahn: National Vienna Project for a glass office Poissy43e Company Assembly Plant, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Terminal, Kennedy Airport, Assembly Building, Dacca

building, Berlin Richmond,California Museum, New York City, NY New York

1930-32 1947-48 19521911-14 1929 Le Corbusier: The Swiss Alvar Aalto: Baker House, SOM: Lever House, New Walter Gropius: Fagus Ludwig Mies van der Rohe: Pavilion, Cite Universities, Paris MIT, Massachusetts York City, New YorkFactory, Alfeld an der Leine Barcelona Pavilion, 1958-60 1963-

International Exposition of Louis Kahn: Richard Joseph Esherick et al.: 1929, Barcelona Medical Research Building, Sea Ranch

Philadelphia Sonoma County, California

1923Le Corbusier’s Towards aNew Architecture published

19331914 Century of Progress 1947-52Le Corbusier defined free 1924-25 Exposition, Chicago Le Corbusier: Unite plan with his Dom-ino houses Gerrit Thomas Rietveld: d’habitation, Marseilles 1953-55

Schroder House, Utrecht Le Corbusier: Notre Dame 1934 du Haut, Ronchamp 1958Frank Llyod Wright: Fallingwater Ludwig Mies van der Rohe: Mill Run, Pennsylvania Seagram Building,

New York City, New York

1925-26 1946Walter Gropius: Bauhaus, Richard Neutra: Bailey HouseDessau Santa Monica, CA 1954

1937 Edward D. Stone: AmericanFrank Llyod Wright: Taliesin Embassy, New DelhiWest, Scottsdale, Arizona

1926Le Corbusier: 5 points d’une 1948 1956-59 1959architecture nouvelle 1939 W.S. Arrasmith: Le Corbusier: Monastery of Louis Kahn: Salk Institute of- stilts Alvar Aalto: Finnish Pavilion, Greyhound Bus Terminal, Sainte-Marie de la Tourette, Biological Studies, La Jolla - roof garden World’s fair of 1939, NewYork Ohio Eveux California- free plan- continuous windows- free façade

Event Chart: Modernism

19501920C

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e◄…….……………………………………………..ART DECO……………………………………..……STREAMLINE MODERNE / ART MODERNE………………………………………………………………………….◄……….............................INTERNATIONAL STYLE…………………….………………………………………………◄……………………...PLURALISM………………………………...……………

◄………………………………………BRUTALISM……………………………………………………………

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1910 1930 1940 1960-70◄………..DE STIJL…….…...►

◄..STRUCTURALISM..◄….METABOLISTMOVEMENT (JAPAN)

1923-1924 1951 1960Kikuji Ishimoto, first Junzo Sakakura: The World Design Conference Japanese architect to study Museum of Modern Art, in Tokyo: Metabolist at the Bauhaus Kamakura, Japan Movement Manifesto

1964Kenzo Tange: Saint Mary’s Cathedral (Tokyo Cathedral), Tokyo, Japan

1959Le Corbusier (collaborated with Kunio Maekawa, JunzoSakakura & Takamasa Yoshizaka): National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo, Japan 1970

Osaka Exposition

1972Kisho Kurokawa: The Nakagin Capsule Tower

Event Chart: Modernism

Asi

a1920 1950

◄…….……………………………………………..ART DECO……………………………………..……STREAMLINE MODERNE / ART MODERNE………………………………………………………………………….◄……….............................INTERNATIONAL STYLE…………………….………………………………………………◄……………………...PLURALISM………………………………...……………

◄………………………………………BRUTALISM……………………………………………………………

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1910 1920 1940◄………..DE STIJL…….…...►

1919 1934 1938 1941 1950 1952 1953Pope & Burton: Hawaiian Claude Stiehl: Church of the Dahl & Conrad: Topping Pope & Burton: Beretania Howard Redfearn: Hego Fuchino: Nuuanu Alfred Preis: First United Temple of the Church of Crossroads Residence Street Church of Jesus Christ Kealakekua Public Library Soto Zen Mission Methodist ChurchJesus Christ of the Latter Day of the Latter Day SaintsSaints

1951Vladimir Ossipoff: Alfred Preis: George Sui: Lum Sai Ho

1936 Hawaiian Life Building Laupahoehoe School TongC. W. Dickey: Waikiki Theater(no longer extant)

1939Thompson & Thompson, HarrySims Bent:: Ala Moana Park

1949Vladimir Ossipoff: Bachman Hall at UH

Lemmon & Freeth: Alfred Preis: ILWU Wimberly & Cook: Ala WaiAug-37 Occidental Life Insurance Memorial Association ApartmentsHonolulu Academy of Arts Exhibition on Modernism in Hawaii Edwin Bauer:

St. Elizabeth’s Church

Harry Sims Bent: Mother Waldron Playground

Kenneth Sato: WaiolaCongregational Church

Lemmon, Freeth & Haines:Waikiki Public Library

Ushijima Store, island of Hawaii

Event Chart: Modernism

Haw

aii

◄…….……………………………………………..ART DECO……………………………………..……STREAMLINE MODERNE / ART MODERNE………………………………………………………………………….◄……….............................INTERNATIONAL STYLE…………………….………………………………………………◄……………………...PLURALISM………………………………...……………

◄………………………………………BRUTALISM……………………………………………………………

1930 1950

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1950

1954 1960 George McLaughlin: St. 1964 Shizuo Oka: Hawaii County 1968 1969 1971Clifford Young: United Vladimir Ossipoff: Pacific Club Augustine’s Catholic Church Minoru Yamasaki: Building Wimberly, Whisenand, John Carl Warnecke, Belt, Wimberly, Whisenand,Chinese Society Hall Queen Emma Gardens Allison, Tong & Goo: Lemmon & Lo: Hawaii Allison, Tong & Goo:

Kona Hilton State Capitol Sheraton Waikiki

Takashi Anbe: City Bank Building

Law & Wilson: Holy Nativity Donald Wolbrink: Alfred Preis: Arizona MemorialKaanapali Master Plan

Wimberly Allison Tong and Roger Lee: St. Stephen’s Au, Cutting, Smith & Goo: Maui Land and

John McAuliffe and Edwin Catholic Church Associates: Ward Plaza Pineapple HeadquartersBauer: St. Sylvester’s Church 1965

Wong & Wong: Community Church of Honolulu

1955 1963Gardner Dailey: Princess Vladimir Ossipoff: Outrigger Kaiulani Hotel Canoe Club

1967 Stephen Oyakawa: Lihue Wimberly, Whisenand, Aotani & Oka: Keahole Wimberly & Cook: Windward Vladimir Ossipoff: Thurston Public Library Allison, Tong & Goo with AirportShopping Center Memorial Chapel Roehrig, Onodera & Kinder:

Skidmore, Owings, Merrill: Surfrider HotelMauna Kea Beach Hotel

Lemmon, Freeth & Haines: I. M. Pei. East-West CenterSinclair Library

Robert Katsuyoshi: MOA Hawaii

1961 Edwin Murayama: NaWong & Wong: Chinese Hale, Maui Community Consulate Peter Hsi: C.Q. Yee Hop Plaza College

Roehrig, Onodera & Kinder:Law & Wilson: Bulk Sugar Liberty Bank at Queen and Ward Bauer, Mori & Lum: Plant Lagoon Tower

1958Hart Wood: Board of Water Supply Administration Leo S. Wou: Financial Building Plaza of the Pacific

1962Vladimir Ossipoff: IBM 1966 Ernest Hara: QueenBuilding Edward Killingsworth: Kahala Stephen Oyakawa: Liliha Kapiolani Hotel

Hilton Library

1959Statehood

Arrival of first jet passenger airplane

Event Chart: Modernism

Haw

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◄…….…BRUTALISM……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………

1960-70

◄………………………………………...….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………STRUCTURALISM………………………………………………………………………………………………………◄…………………………………………………..………………………………………………….………………………………...METABOLIST MOVEMENT (JAPAN)…………………………………………………………………………………………………

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