In early August 2023, during Hurricane Dore and Hawaii’s hottest month a wildfire started north of the historic town of Lahaina, Maui. The wind-driven fire prompted evacuations, destroyed over 2,200 buildings, killing 101 people and leaving almost 5,000 residents displaced.
In response, Lahaina Community Housing aims to produce cost efficient long-term shelter housing that rekindles and regathers Lahaina’s community. Gaining inspiration from traditional Hawaiian A-frame structures (or Hale), the architecture follows similar structural proportions and ruled surface qualities. The structures, built on dry-stack lava rock platforms, align with the natural topography of Maui Island and gently sit on its landscape.
The modular system of 6 components configures into a single co-dwelling unit that houses two families of four or four couples, totaling eight residents. The large open-air central structure holds the wet core along with other shared living spaces, while the smaller conditioned structure holds the private sleeping areas. Variation of configuration and placement of the structure also allows for small and large courtyards to be formed between structures. Ultimately, the project unites Lahaina residents while their town is slowly rebuilt and attempts to offer a new perspective on permanent shelter housing in a world with changing climates.
