Hawaiian tropic: construction at Ward Village gathers pace in Honolulu

As if the tropical island of Honolulu in Hawaii couldn’t get any more alluring, this small patch of land in the Pacific Ocean is about to up its architecture credentials with Ward Village, a new 60-acre master-planned community currently under development midway between the downtown district and Waikiki.

Developed by the Howard Hughes Corporation, the Village features a roster of prestigious architectural talent, such as Richard Meier & Partners and Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. Introducing one million square feet of brand new residential real estate, built in environmentally-friendly surroundings, the development is Hawaii’s only LEED-ND Platinum-Certified project – the largest project within the US to receive such an accreditation, explain the developers.

The scheme is located just a stone’s throw from the most desirable part of the state’s largest island – just west of Waikiki in the Kakaako district. Residents will have easy access to the nearby Ala Moana Beach Park, with the ability to make use of its tennis courts, surfing, sailing and running facilities.

The village will be composed of five smaller projects, each created by a different team. The Gateway Towers, designed by Richard Meier & Partners, is located at the heart of the Village and consists of two residential high-rises providing approximately 236 homes. Facilities will include public living rooms, an ocean view fitness centre and infinity-edged lounge pools.

The Waiea tower by James KM Cheng Architects and WCIT Architecture takes its name from the Hawaiian word for ‘water’. It will contain 171, one-, two- and three-bedroom residences including ten regular penthouses, ten townhouses, and a single breathtaking $36 million penthouse.

The final three constructions – Anaha by Chicago-based Solomon Cordwell Buenz in partnership with Benjamin Woo Architects, Ae‘o by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, and Ke Kilohana designed by AC Martin and Honolulu-based CDS International – help the Village’s residential offerings reach over 4,000 units, securing its reputation as one of the world's largest ongoing urban redevelopments.