Ossipoff Mid-Century Modern Beach House for Sale in Kona

Every once in awhile as a Realtor, you come across a home that redefines what it means to “Live Hawaii.” This Tropical Hideaway on Kona’s Alii Drive does just that.

The main house is a 1959 Vladimir Ossipoff designed beach house. Ossipoff, Hawaii’s premier modernist architect combined Mid-Century Modern, a rustic Japanese aesthetic and his love of the Hawaiian Lanai creating what became known as Hawaiian Modern. His work was just featured in an exhibition at the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

In this home the walls slide open merging the interior spaces with the exterior and white crushed coral cement floors flow from inside to out. Dark stained native woods and redwood paneling with his signature rubbed-off paint finish define the sleek and open structure. Two suites straddle the great room and kitchen with lanais all around. The kitchen for period perfectionists has its original cabinetry, stainless steel counter with a built in range, and even a 1959 green enameled wall oven.

The three guesthouses, built by the current owner and his woodworker sons with design help from Lucky Bennett, another of Hawaii’s famous modernist architects surround the original home yet all are completely private. They are nestled among koi ponds, coconut palms, ancient plumeria and shaded by shower trees. The guesthouses all have a second story, better to capture the views and breezes from the ocean just steps away across Alii Drive. All feature bamboo and ohia details and that same indoor outdoor living inspired by the Ossipoff designed main house. All of the houses are decorated in a relaxed Hawaiian style, mixing vintage and modern. This is a house that sings “Lucky we live Hawaii!”