Walking tours focus on architecture

Wherever you’re shopping for a home, it’s always a good idea to learn more about the neighborhood you’re looking in or how the buildings and homes were constructed, plus it can be interesting.

I had planned to feature a new free architectural walking tour of historic Waikiki given by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Honolulu chapter, but it’s so popular that over the weekend the tour slots filled up.

However, you can still sign up for the waiting list in case of any cancellations, so I’ll still give you the lowdown and info on another AIA Honolulu event happening in celebration of April’s Architecture Month.

Led by AIA architects and other design-minded volunteers, the two-hour walk, which starts at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, covers architecturally significant historic buildings in Waikiki, including the Cooper Apartments on Seaside Avenue (pictured above). Though it is currently commercial, the Cooper Apartments building, built in 1939 as a residential building, is an example of the low-rise walk-ups in the area and will be discussed as part of “pre-Statehood Hawaii.”

You can add your name to the waiting list by registering at the AIA Honolulu Web site at www.aiahonolulu.org or by calling 808-545-4242.

The group’s regular Saturday architectural walking tours in Downtown Honolulu are still available this month, but it costs $10 a person. Click here to register.

Later this month, go behind-the-scenes on the Fifth Annual Architecture Firm Crawl on Friday, April 26, from 5 to 8 p.m. You’ll see what an architecture studio looks like and find out exactly what an architect does when designing residential and commercial buildings.

The stops include the Center for Architecture, Peter Vincent Architects, Fritz Johnson Architect and Tusher Architectural Group (they have designed several custom homes on Oahu and Big Island) and WATG. Even though it’s free, you’ll need to register for this event. Click here for more details.

Updated April 16, 2013.