New York City’s skyline has gained much from Robert A.M. Stern Architects, the firm behind some of Manhattan’s most iconic, soaring-high residential skyscrapers like 220 Central Park South and 15 Central Park West. Now, for the first time, the acclaimed architecture studio is making its mark on Hawaii with a pair of “trophy towers” that channel classic luxury through a historic, tropical island lens.
“We’ve tried to go back to local traditions, materials, proportions of openings, use of covered walkways and then also make the buildings extremely modern,” says Robert A.M. Stern, founder of the architecture firm. “I love this idea of going back to go forward.”
The two-tower project, named ‘Ilima and Melia after native flowers, is developed by The Howard Hughes Corporation as part of its 60-acre master-planned Ward Village community located in Downtown Honolulu on O‘ahu’s South Shore. The 33-story ‘Ilima will 148 private residences, along with three levels of amenities curated by Discovery Land Company. The building offers an owner-focused experience with concierge services and lifestyle programming typically found in private clubs. Next door, Melia stands slightly taller at 35 stories featuring 221 residences.
Connected by a botanical garden pathway that stretches from the IBM Building to Ka Lei Park, landscaping done by VITA Planning & Landscape Architecture makes sure to incorporate the natural environment through a courtyard-centered plan and open-air breezeways.
Buyers can expect interiors that blend modernity with coastal warmth, working in collaboration with Champalimaud Design. “We’ve really dug in to try to capture something that says this could only be in Hawaii,” muses Stern. “Our imagery picks up on long-established and long-evolving threads.”
The dual towers will have panoramic views of the Diamond Head and the Pacific Ocean. And while pricing and unit mix remain under wraps for now, sales are expected to launch soon and interest is already rising.
