Onion House
Hand-built house in Holualoa, Hawaii, United States
About
The Onion House is an innovative home commissioned by Elizabeth McCormick von Beck, member of the McCormick family, and designed and hand-built by American architect Kendrick Bangs Kellogg, in Holualoa, Hawaii, (near Kailua-Kona) in 1962-1963.
With the address of 77-6411 Nalani St, Kailua-kona Hawaii, it is an example of organic architecture, or metaphoric architecture. The arched roof panels resemble a shell, or an onion, while the lava rock walls reference ancient Hawaiian temples, or heiau, which are found along the Kona coast. The roof panels are translucent like onion skin, transmitting sunlight into the house during the day and glowing at night. With no exterior walls, the outdoors are integrated with the living areas, separated only by screen or stained glass. A 70-foot pool wraps around the two main structures.
Nearby
More to see within walking distance
Hōlualoa Bay
Historic Place in Hawaii County, Hawaii
0.9 mi away
Laʻaloa Bay
Bay in Hawaii County, Hawaii
1.1 mi awaySadie Seymour Botanical Gardens
Nonprofit botanical gardens in Hawaiʻi island, Hawaiʻi
0.7 mi awayPlaces to eat nearby
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