Tall & Urban News

For Studio Gang’s first major project on the Hawaiian islands, principal Jeanne Gang devised a 41-story mixed-use tower inspired by the island’s native red sugar cane, from which it gets its name—Kō‘ula. Comprising shops on the lower levels and residences above, the 570-unit tower is poised to begin construction in 2019. One-, two- and three-bedroom residences will range in size from 300 to 1,500 square feet (28 to 139 square meters) and feature a private lanai terrace.  
 
“The structure is this kind of changing vertical kō‘ula, which is one of the plants that’s native to Hawaii,” says Gang. “The way they move and twist is very beautiful, so the vertical columns respond in that way.” The building’s subtle bend also ensures that each unit has access to premier ocean views. 
 
The project is part of a larger development underway in the Ward Village district on Oahu’s south shore. The 60-acre (24.3-hectare) master plan is organized by the Howard Hughes Corporation, and will host a collection of restaurants, shops, and high-rise residential towers, some of which are already completed (including Anaha, a tower designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson). Once finished, the urban development expects to be a LEED Platinum–certified community, introducing more than 4,500 residences and close to one million square feet (92,903 square meters) of retail spaces. “Kō‘ula is really the anchor, located on central plaza of Ward Village,” says Simon Treacy, president of the Howard Hughes Corporation, Hawaii. In the next decade, Treacy says, the community will see an additional nine towers built. 
 
Opening in November 2018, the central plaza includes a farmers market, yoga space, and an outdoor cinema series.  
 
The building’s exterior boasts the mastery of curved forms for which Studio Gang is known. Natural materials and tones are seen throughout the project to complement the views, rather than compete with them. 
 
For more on this story, go to Architectural Digest.