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Right before the pandemic in my spare time after my downtown 9-5 job, I would stay up late and work on drawings for an extension to my parents' home in Maunawili, Oahu the home I grew up in. It was a project me and my family had always imagined completing since I was young. The extension involved finishing an old garage that had been abandoned for over twenty years, and it had been an eyesore for our family and neighbors.
As soon as the pandemic hit and the island went into a stay-at-home order, we were able to get the necessary permits and start construction. My parents have always enjoyed buying, renovating, and selling houses, which influenced my decision to pursue architecture as a career. I suppose this project was a natural progression of their influence on me. In 2021, my parents and I began working on the extension, and it was an amazing learning experience for me. (they also tiled this entire pool themselves)
I got to understand firsthand how design plays out in construction, how to choose cost-effective materials, and how to draw intricate details. I tried my best to optimize every aspect of the house while also keeping expenses to a minimum. My main objective was to develop a compelling design without worrying too much about the cost, which meant that I had to get really creative with the design and materials I ultimately chose. This included frequent visits to Reuse Hawaii and constant searches on Facebook Marketplace for the right resources.
This photograph was sourced from a family album and captures the original state of the house before renovation. To envision a potential extension, my father duplicated the image, removed the existing house and pasted it where he envisioned the future addition.
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