Your Next Home Could be Designed by One of Hawai‘i’s Star Architects

Hawai‘i homes by Ossipoff, Hogan or Dickey command a premium.

April 7, 2017

Rachel Ross,

Home of C.W. Dickey.

Photo: Courtesy of Wikipedia

You’ve seen it on open-house flyers: “A stunning Ossipoff” or “Kailua Oceanfront by George Hogan.” Hawai‘i’s renowned architects attract attention—architecture buffs follow their careers, and people who aren’t necessarily on the market suddenly become buyers. Among some of the most recognized and influential are C.W. Dickey, George Hogan and the duo of Sid Snider and Vladimir Ossipoff.

Charles William “C.W.” Dickey designed some of the most beautiful buildings in Honolulu, including the Alexander & Baldwin building on Bishop Street and the Halekūlani. In residential homes, he was known for opens spaces, few walls, and a double pitch roof line that allowed for both extended eaves for shade and protection of views.

The Alexander & Baldwin building.

Hogan is known for his mid-century kama‘āina homes with Japanese influence. His homes were designed for indoor/outdoor living and are treasured for their natural ventilation. Hogan’s niece, Coldwell Banker Realtor Anne Hogan Perry, says, “He was a visionary of placement of a home on a lot, spending hours at the property studying wind, sun and elements before beginning his design process. He also spent time in Japan studying how to bring nature into the design of a home to create calm and elegance.”

Perhaps the most famous of all was Ossipoff, who worked as a team with Sid Snyder, and together were considered the masters of indoor-outdoor living spaces in Hawai‘i, known for capturing natural elements in design. Ossipoff and Snyder were well ahead of the times for green practices, using passive design (think natural ventilation) before it was a common term.

The Liljestrand Home.

Photo: Courtesy of The Liljestrand House

Of course, you can expect to pay a premium for a starchitect-designed home, but the upside is that these places homes hold their value—to a specific group that understands and appreciates the architect.

Want to take a peek at one of these houses? Snyder’s personal home is currently on the market for $2,950,000. Also, the Liljestrand Home, on Tantalus, is preserved as it was when originally built, and tours are available.