Remembering Philip “Pip” White

A mentor, family man and visionary — those who knew local architect Philip “Pip” White speak highly of the impact he made in the community. Laura Ayers, principal of WhiteSpace Architects, has been leading the firm founded by White since his death on Aug. 25, 2022. Here, Ayers (shown with White in the photo above) reflects on White’s pioneering approach to commercial and residential design, and how the WhiteSpace ohana honors his memory.

“Pip was born to be an architect and had an intuitive approach to architecture,” says Ayers. “For example, he had an innate ability to site a custom home for the best natural lighting and even ventilation.”

How would you describe Pip personally and professionally?
Pip was an extremely talented architect; watching him work through floor plans was mesmerizing and therapeutic. He had an innate ability to locate a house on a site so that the natural ventilation would cool the space — as Hawaii intended, no need for AC. His experience working as a carpenter as a young man made his attention to detailing unprecedented.

With Pip, there was no ego, no arrogance, just pure local values. He truly believed in mentorship and made time for everyone. He was funny and kind and humble. He made coming to work fun!

This East Honolulu home designed by WhiteSpace Architects exemplifies White’s focus on strategic and sustainable flow in a residential layout.

Explain the design ethos of WhiteSpace Architects and its impact on the industry.
A seventh-generation kamaaina, Pip infused a Hawaiian sense of place into all of his designs. Pip believed that everyone deserves good design, because good design will change the way that you live. In addition to dozens of gracious homes for Island families statewide, Pip also designed many educational and commercial projects. For example, Punahou School’s former Cooke Library is now being transformed into the Mary Kawena Pukui Learning Commons, a state-of-the-art center that Pip designed for collaborative and individual learning. It’s a full-circle moment for all of us who knew Pip: He was a junior at Punahou when the Cooke Library opened. At WhiteSpace Architects, it is about community and about relationships, as well as timeless, thoughtful design.

White’s “ability to visualize and conceptualize complex roof configurations and 3D forms was impressive,” says Ayers. “Pip’s legacy will continue to live on in the thoughtful residential, educational and commercial spaces that he created for people all across Hawaii.”

How are you and the WhiteSpace ohana carrying Pip’s legacy into the future?
Pip was ahead of his time in so many ways, and I’ve long believed that the local architectural industry eventually came around to his thinking. From the earliest days of his own practice, he believed that good architectural design was inherently sustainable; if not sustainable, then it could not truly be a successful architectural design. With our designs at WhiteSpace Architects, we always strive to make him proud.

In an industry where firms often expect employees to “burn the midnight oil,” Pip believed that we are superior architects and create better designs when we are able to live full lives outside of the office. Continuing that philosophy, at WhiteSpace Architects, we still rarely work more than 40 hours per week — a practice that is really unheard of in this industry. Pip believed that a work-life balance was vital to a happy life and a productive office.

A strong sense of place anchored White’s design approach. Natural materials and finishes, and interconnectedness between indoor and outdoor spaces were hallmarks of his projects.

What is your favorite memory of Pip?
I have so many memories of Pip that it is impossible to pick just one. My favorites are sitting with [him] in his office, his two beloved Irish setters laying at his feet — shoes off, of course — and sketching a floor plan for a new house that we were working on. We would talk through what the clients wanted in their new home, how the breezes moved through the site, the exact site and position on the property, the light, and how the flow would work in the space. Designing alongside Pip was a relaxing and invigorating experience that I will remember always.

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