When choosing to settle in a wilder, less inhabited area, one has to adapt in every way to the natural environment, especially to landscape and climate. If the site is on a rocky cliff on top of all, the natural constraints are even bigger. Slovenian firm Dekleva Gregoric Arhitekti respond to this challenge by embedding the house into the sloping site. In order to protect it from the strong winds that characterize Maui’s northern coast, the house is protected from three sides by U shaped concrete pockets, and also by a wood-clad roof. Like one of the waves of the ocean beneath, this roof starts from is anchored to the ground on both ends. It starts with a grassy ramp that goes up on the wooden-deck roof, then waves down and up again to finish its descent on the other side of the house, with a similar grassy ramp sustained by a concrete structure. There are five U shaped concrete pockets connected among them by a network of beams and joists, that are in their turn connected by floor to ceiling glass surfaces. Four of these pockets have the opening towards the ocean an enclose more private parts of the house, like the owners’ and guests’ bedrooms. The fifth pocket has its opening to the north and functions as a double garage. The construction is environmentally friendly, made with local materials and based on natural ventilation.
From the top of the roof the views are even more spectacular, as it feels like looking down from the edge of a cliff.
Like a rocky mountain with various peaks, the wood-clad roof “grows” naturally out of the ground.
The wooden decks on various levels offer different points of view for admiring the immensity of the ocean.
The concrete U modules that enclose the rooms widen slight onto the view through floor to ceiling glass walls.
The connections among the concrete modules are made with glass on both sides, creating see through channels in various points of the building.
