COURTESY OF DAVID FRANZEN This new Kahala home, with its welcoming front porch, is an example of island-style living. It cost $2.1 million to build.

‘Hobbit House’ among
this year’s building
award winners

Something new, something old, something classy, something true -- all were honored at the 20th annual Renaissance Building & Remodeling Awards last night at Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Twenty-four prizes were awarded by the Building Industry Association of Hawaii in nine categories. Four grand prizes went to: "Back to Bungalow," for a new home built on Kahala Avenue; "The Hobbit House," a historical renovation in Manoa; "Lewers Lounge Renovation" at the Halekulani hotel in Waikiki; and "Kalani's Restaurant," a new restaurant on the mainland designed by a Hawaii company.

That the Kahala project's design won a grand prize may be viewed as backlash against the proliferation of non-Hawaii architecture in the islands, especially in high-end neighborhoods.

"The front porch provides a welcoming touch, addressing Kahala Avenue in a very neighborly fashion," architect Geoffrey Lewis wrote in his contest submission.

"The '80s and '90s residential building spree ... has done a real disservice to the once charming neighborhoods of old Hawaii," Lewis said.

"On Kahala Avenue alone, historic residential architecture of the past has been demolished to make room for air-conditioned boxes that maximize the building area and pay no attention to the beautiful attributes that island-style living offers."

The new Kahala home's U-shaped courtyard was designed specifically to face the northeast to capture prevailing trade winds and channel them through the rest of the house.

The contract price for the project was $2.1 million, and it was built by Kaneohe-based Sutton Construction Inc.

The owners of the Hobbit House wanted to maintain the historic features of their circa-1920s home, but needed to expand it to accommodate a growing family.

Welch and Weeks LLC, an architecture firm, worked with the clients over several months to make their wishes come true while maintaining the external character of the Huelani Drive home.

For a contract price of just under $352,000, the two-bedroom home got a new master suite with a small lanai and home office; an enclosed two-car garage with storage and work space; a larger dining room; a family room; a screened lanai; and a children's play loft in the new roof attic. The home also got a dumbwaiter that connects the street-level garage to the main living area to simplify grocery unloading. The builder was Homeworks Construction Inc. of Honolulu.

The two commercial projects that won overall grand prizes are available for public view in Waikiki and in South Lake Tahoe, Calif.

Halekulani's Lewers Lounge was remodeled by ADI Design Group Inc., which performed the architectural and interior design work, as well as Lyle Hamasaki Construction Inc.

The hotel wanted the renovation to make seven improvements, such as building a ceiling that would provide better access to areas above the lounge; relieving the staff of the need to stock and store nearly 100 liquor bottles at the back bar; and giving the lounge a New York jazz club feel while maintaining a spirit of island hospitality, all within three weeks.

The job was done on time and within the $180,000 contract price.

The Hawaii-tied owners of Kalani's Restaurant insisted on transporting an upscale, modern Hawaiian sense of place to South Lake Tahoe and its many San Franciscan visitors. Tikis and canoe paddles were forbidden.

Like Hawaii, South Lake Tahoe is a year-round resort, and the Pacific-Rim cuisine restaurant is within an upscale hotel-condominium complex.

James Tucker Associates Inc. of Honolulu did both the architectural and interior design work, incorporating symbols and imagery of waves, the sail of a Polynesian voyaging canoe, surfboards, rain and volcanoes. Sculpted bamboo art, custom-poured glass, underwater photography and other work from Hawaii artisans were exported for the restaurant's interiors.

SMC Contracting in Reno built the $1.1 million restaurant, whose logo is a monstera leaf.

Judging for the Renaissance awards is assigned to architects, builders and interior designers.

All members of a winning team are recognized, but the award itself goes to the individual or company that prepares the contest submission.

"Homeowners can also enter," said Sam Shenkus, BIA publicist.

Judges include members of various industry organizations, such as the General Contractors Association, the American Society of Interior Designers, the National Kitchen & Bath Association, American Institute of Architects and the Building Industry Association, said Karen Nakamura, BIA-Hawaii CEO.

The judges know whose work they are judging and as such, no judge can have an entry in the annual competition, she said.