Tropical Modernism: Residences of Wimberly and Cook
Pete Wimberly of Wimberly & Cook designed two residences situated above the Manoa Valley in Oahu, Hawaii. Wimberly designed some of the most iconic mid-century modern buildings in Hawaii. Wimberly came to Hawaii in 1940, and post-war his career flourished. His designs embodied tropical modernism, spaces that blurred indoor and outdoor living. The residential designs we toured both featured indoor/outdoor living, natural cross-ventilation, elegant interior details and finishes, and a smart use of natural light. However, they were completely different in essence, aesthetic, style, and state.
The Japanese style pavilion house was like walking into a meticulously cared-for time capsule. There wasn’t even dust on the book shelves that displayed artifacts collected and arranged by the original homeowner! However, there were a few signs of wear-and-tear on the interior Japanese style floor mats, kitchen cabinets along their frames, and slight dry-rot peppered across the original wood deck. Otherwise the home was pristinely maintained. Wimberly’s private residence across the street was a different story.
Wimberly’s private residence was constructed in 1945. This is an insane date for residential construction due to World-War II ending the same year, and the majority of architects/contractors in Oahu were working on military projects. With the Japanese style pavilion home, you enter by walking down slightly winding stone steps. With Wimberly’s private residence, you enter by climbing up stone steps that deliver visitors to a small landing, and then up more exterior stairs. The second set of stairs (wood planks suspended by cables) makes for a swoon-worthy entry sequence that looks like something Dwell or Architectural Digest would gobble up for a feature article.
From the now faded red door, redish-pink painted wood paneled ceilings, decorative animal sculptures situated within the header above the door that leads from the dining area into the kitchen, to ornate light fixtures and various metal finishes throughout the space, Wimberly’s private residence utilized design elements that reflected the multicultural diversity of Hawaii. The residence is also quintessential mid-century design: natural cross-ventilation, sliding wall panels to completely open up or section off the main-floor living, dining and lounge areas, and a technological savvy (for its time) kitchen. From the perspective of how we design kitchens today, it is real sad and small, save for the to-die-for view of the lush tropical garden from the kitchen window over the sink.
Wimberley’s private residence also showed signs of being well lived-in, yet not maintained with any desired vigor. The wood framed windows on either side of the structure are rotting like the planks along the entry façade deck, and there are several cracked panes of window glass. Structural settling has made itself known, and the kitchen is retro in a manner no one would want for daily use. Most of the interior painted walls or ceilings have faded into softer hues of their original bold colors. And, when we visited, it looked as though someone was living there, yet possibly setting up an estate sale for interior items. There were some true mid-century interior design gems scattered in the clutter piled up from the floor I wish I could have packed in my suitcase for the return trip.
