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Hawaiian Hall was the first building in Hawaii to be built of cut basalt stone.
Hawaiian Hall Complex
As part of Bishop Museum's master plan, Mason Architects is designing the restoration and improvement of the historic Hawaiian Hall Complex. The complex was built in three phases, 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 and electric lighting and air conditioning were installed, sometimes to the detriment of the building's appearance and environmental sustainability.
Working with exhibit designers Ralph Applebaum and Associates, MAI will bring the complex up to state-of-the-art museum standards without compromising its historic integrity. The project includes:
- the repair of interior and exterior surfaces
- integration of new air-conditioning, fire-sprinkler, fire-alarm, power, and security systems
- a new three-story glass-enclosed courtyard to provide accessibility.
Photos: David Franzen |
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Three-story Hawaiian Hall today.
The entrance hall today.
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