Designed and Built in a time span of only 6 months, Ohana explores the architectural and formal characteristics of materiality and modernity within a challenging site and a limited budget. The concept was driven by the ‘city scape’ rather than the ‘single building’, in which the morphological characteristics of the design aimed for the primary geometry to be well integrated within its environment. To achieve this, the main mass that comprises Ohana is rotated and ‘pulled back’ in order to provide continuous and uninterrupted pedestrian walkways throughout, thus ensuring that the form is in no way obtrusive to its existing setting.

Moreover, the mass’s positioning within the site is driven by two existing trees that were essential to maintain and integrate within the design. The harmony between the design and the environment is also applied to the materiality used, in which the entire form was constructed through the use of only 2 distinct finishes; concrete and white plaster. Finally, and with the aim of ensuring that the design is well integrated and symbiotic to its surroundings, the design’s main façade is completely opaque, while the entrance is concealed as to ensure the morphological characteristics of the final form are given equal value throughout.