Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 16, Number 6, 1 June 1999 — The art of design [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The art of design

Bridging architecture and landscape in Hawai'i

By Jayson Harper MAKING THE most of Hawai'i's unique natural landscape in designing places for Hawai'i residents to Uve, work and play is how John Aveiro makes a living. One of the founders of the Honolulu architectural firm Design Partners Incorporated (DPI) in 1979, Aveiro has been designing buildings for more than two decades. DPI provides planning and architectural and interior design services for the pubhc and private sectors and employs 30 people in its Honolulu office. The "indoor and outdoor eonneehon" is what makes Aveiro's designs special. He uses open space to create an environment free of barriers between structures and their natural setting. "I think that any architect practicing in Hawai'i, whether or not he or she was raised here as I was, cannot help but be influenced by the environment," says Aveiro. "Having done some world travelling, I feel very fortunate to have been bom and raised in Hawai'i." Aveiro credits architects from Hawai'i's territorial period as the major shapers of island architecture. "Many of the buildings that they designed are still

standing today and still admired," Aveiro says. The indoor-outdoor design connection ean be seen throughout the state in devel-

Design Parlners lncorporated Architects • Planners • Interior Designers 1580 Makaloa Street, Suite 1 100 ■ Honolulu, HI 96814 (808) 949-0044 • Fax: (808) 946-9663

opments in whieh DPI has had a hand. DPI has designed and built some 18,000 homes in Hawai'i, more than any other firm in the state. These include the Villages of Kapolei, a project with 519 sin-

gle-family units; Lalea at Hawai'i Kai, a 290-unit, multi-family project; Queens a 128-unit, multi-family project on Lāna'i; Waikōloa Shores, with 172 single-family units on Hawai'i; Maui Lani Phase 1, with 300 single-family units; and Hanapepe Heights, a Kaua'i complex of 256 singlefamily units. The effect of Q'ahu's slow eeonomie

growth on the housing market has pushed DPI to find altemative markets on other islands. Maui's increasing visitor count has created opportunities in eommercial development and DPI has found others in Guam. However, Aveiro and his partners have not relied solely on new markets to stay eompetitive. DP1 was the first private company

in Hawai'i to been involved in a new procedure called Functional Analysis Concept Development (FACD). This process integrates value engineering with cost modelSee DESIGN on page 18

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PHOĪO: JAYSON HARPER (Above) Native Hawaiian Architect John Aveiro. (Right) One of Design Partners most noticeable structures is the the Ala Wai golf course club house.

DESIGN

From Page 14 ing in the conceptual design stages of a project. This process translates into reduced project schedules and maintains cost control. DPI is also involved in the creation and development of new building materials and methods of construction, such as, steel framing and wet core construction. "DPI's strength lies in its abihty to provide a wide range of professional services," said Aveiro. These include programming, feasibility studies, land use studies, site planning studies and interior architectural services. Computer Aided Design and Drawing, or CADD, whieh uses computers to eonceptualize and create precise designs is an invaluable tool for contemporary architects and key to DPI's work. In addition, DP1 uses 3D animahon as well as computer modeling and rendering to aeeurately show what a project would be like in natural

surroundings. Aveiro says the new technology has been a critical aid in design and marketing projects. Aveiro is a graduate of Kailua High School and Honolulu Community College. He describes his pursuit of a career in architecture as "roundabout." He was pursuing a degree in meehanieal engineering from UH Mānoa when he changed his major to architectural drafting. The switch, Aveiro says, has afforded him the abihty to eam a hving doing something he thoroughly enjoys. His passion for architecture is clear. He has chaired the American Institute of Architects (AIA) committee on improving and accelerating project production techniques, and the State Housing Committee's Affordable Housing Task Force. But he considers his role as principal founder of DPI his most important achievement. "If you are looking for a profession where you ean make a lot of money quickly, this is not it," Aveiro said, "If you want a very exciting and satislying career that affects people's daily hves in a major way, then you have found the right profession." ■