Hamakua coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Located on thirty acres of remote pasture, the slender steel frame supports walls of varying opacity; from nothing, to glass, to screen, to solid—creating a laminate of materials tempering the expansive view overlooking the Hamakua coastline.

The remoteness of the site, their desire for large open expanses, and a commitment to build sustainably led them to investigate prefabrication in steel as a method of construction. They began to research standard prefabrication systems available but all seemed clumsy and lacking the refinement they desired. So working closely with their structural engineer, they designed and developed a bolt together structural system based on 8″x8″ wide flange beams that enabled broad spans of steel framing while retaining the elegance of scale they had envisioned.

 

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Craig Steely
Craig Steely is principal of Craig Steely Architecture. His work explores the boundaries of integration as well as emancipation from nature. They embrace the realities of the environment and our connection/separation to it over the subjugation of it, all the while focusing on developing a singular architecture rooted in its context.

He received his architecture degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. His work has been awarded recognition by the American Institute of Architects and published widely in books and periodicals. In 2009 he was selected as an “Emerging Talent” by the AIA California Council. His office was chosen top firm in the 2013 Residential Architect Magazine leadership awards.