Lavaflow 8 – Bourzat/Grossbard House

Wa’a Wa’a, Big Island, Hawaii

Lavaflow 8 inhabits a land of dramatic contrasts. Located on the eastern edge of the Big Island of Hawaii, it sits in the thin and constantly changing zone between the ocean and the jungle. This remote and highly sensitive site, located in a conservation district challenged us to re-imagine what living in such a place should look and feel like, as well as what the responsibility of living here should entail.

In the decision to live here lies a tacit agreement to become a steward of the land—to maintain and protect it. A local botanist was brought on in the early stages of design to catalog what was endemic, indigenous and invasive to the site. The location of the house was predicated on these as much as orientation to the sun, weather patterns and cross ventilation. We removed invasive species of Autograph and Ironwood trees and protected clusters of endangered Ischaemum.  We built the house around an existing Hala grove, adding more native Hala trees, Naupaka and Ama’u fern to protect the house from the constant wind and sea spray.

Photos: Darren Bradley