Creative Engineering

When an artist and a structural engineer took on the challenge of revitalizing their dated Honolulu condo, the results were extraordinary. The cover story from our February 2020 issue explores a witty and whimsical renovation by the local couple, with timeless notes for condo owners on incorporating meticulous details, personal effects and playful colors in their living spaces.

The homeowners’ first visit to their Imperial Plaza unit revealed a fixer-upper from the 1990s with fabulous potential. Lofty ceilings, open spaces and an enviable vantage point overlooking the city were among the condo’s selling points. With their combined technical and aesthetic expertise, the couple elevated these foundational elements into a truly unique home.

First, the homeowners removed the condo’s obsolete popcorn ceilings, revealing striking concrete ceilings that complemented the unit’s maroon window frames — and this warm, industrial-style palette set the tone for other design decisions. Selecting sleek, minimalist furniture with clean lines was key to keeping the condo spaces uncluttered and airy.

“Our main goal was to take these great ‘bare bones’ and modernize them, emphasizing the best architectural features of the building while being respectful of Hawaii’s incontestable natural beauty that surrounds it,” said the homeowner in the original print story.

Bold pieces like the chrome, oversized-bauble ceiling lamp in the guest bedroom and vibrant area rug in the master bedroom are can’t-miss focal points of the condo. It’s in the nuanced details, however, where the homeowners’ creativity shines. The wallpaper in the guest bedroom, for example, is a city-life motif, depicting parking meters, fire hydrants and some of the critters that call it home.

In the guest bedroom are models of iconic skyscrapers: the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, Willis Tower in Chicago, the Empire State Building in New York, and the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco, making for a kind of urban masterpiece inside an urban masterpiece.

View the original feature from our February 2020 issue here.

Editor’s Note: This article has been slightly modified from the original print version for optimal online reading. To view the full print story, pick up your copy of Hawaii Home + Remodeling at one of our partner locations.