Regional Architecture: A Sustainable Archetype for Kaho'olawe

Abstract

This project aims to demonstrate that Regionalism integrated with a focus on Sustainability and Culture creates place specific, sustainable, and culturally appropriate architecture. Regionalism and sustainable design methods are essential to creating appropriate meaningful architecture of place that people can identify with. All the contextual forces of a region such as, climate, resources, culture, economics, historical context, and technology, inform design. Cultural values are sources of inspiration for creativity to approach design. Cultural values are represented through architecture Regionalism is a well suited design method that when coupled with strategies of sustainability and cultural integration can provide a holistic approach to architecture. Regionalism’s framework assists the architect in addressing all the contexts for a project specific to place especially aspects of sustainability and integrating cultural values. Kaho‘olawe Island represents the Hawaiian cultural heritage and revival. The restoration effort on Kaho‘olawe could be appropriately communicated through a regionalist design approach to help Hawaiians, Restoration Staff, and Volunteers better understand the value of the Island past, present, and future. The following research defines Regionalism, Sustainability, and Culture to develop a hybrid regional design methodology. Three specific case studies analyzed and evaluated the design process of architecture with a respective focus on Regionalism, Sustainability, and culturally sensitive design. This research uses these definitions and examples to develop a hybrid design method termed Culturally Sustainable Regionalism. The ability of this hybrid design methodology to create place specific, sustainable, and culturally appropriate architecture is demonstrated in an application located on Kaho‘olawe.