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Hawaiian Hall after the restoration to its 1903 appearance. Koa panels have been installed in the windows to shield the exhibits from sunlight.
Hawaiian Hall Complex
Mason Architects designed the Phase I restoration and improvement of the historic Hawaiian Hall Complex. The complex was built in three stages, from 1888 to 1903, by Charles Reed Bishop, who created a museum to house the collection of Hawaiian artifacts owned by his wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, who died in 1884.
Mason Architects's Historic Structures Report documented the building's significance and history of alterations and recommended guidelines for its preservation. The complex is noted for
- its collections
- its precedent-setting use of cut basalt stone
- its intact Victorian-style interiors, and
- the design of its third phase, Hawaiian Hall, by master architect C. W. Dickey.
Originally, skylights and double-hung windows provided all the lighting and ventilation for the complex, but over the years many of these openings were filled in, sometimes to the detriment of the building's appearance and environ-mental sustainability.
Working with the museum staff and exhibit designer Ralph Applebaum and Associates, MAI brought the complex up to state-of-the-art museum standards without compromising its historic integrity. The project included:
- the restoration of interior and exterior surfaces
- integration of new climate-control, fire-sprinkler, fire-alarm, power, and security systems
- a new three-story glass-enclosed courtyard to provide accessibility
To read "Artifact Intact" in the Star-Bulletin -- click here.
Photos: Linney Morris |
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The fire sprinkler system is hidden in the wrought-iron grillwork.
Most wires and cables are enclosed in conduits beneath the guard rails.
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