Live on This Off-Grid “Art Farm” With Views of Maui’s Haleakalā Volcano for $4M
Property Details:
Location: 796 Awalau Road, Haiku, Hawaii
Price: $3,995,000
Lot size: 15.71 acres
Year Built: 2018
From the agent: "This property was constructed with the idea that off-grid living can be as luxurious and full of amenities as traditional living and has fulfilled the promise of a private, sustainable way of life, free from public utilities and all the associated inconveniences. Located on a private road in Haiku at approximately 2,000 feet of elevation, the ‘art farm’ is powered by a 48-panel solar array, a propane powered back-up generator, and eight batteries. The main dwelling was designed and built by the owner who was guided by three principles: form/function, passive conditioning to naturally improve the indoor living environment, and, finally, to frame the most incredible view."
Former architecture professor Thomas Rusnak designed and built the Float Off-Grid Art Farm on nearly 16 acres in the Haiku community of Maui, Hawaii, in 2018. "When we walked the property prior to construction, we immediately fell in love with the three boulder-lined creeks and the beauty of the rolling pasture land," says the owner/seller. "You can see the observatory atop Haleakā and a 180-degree view of the Pacific Ocean."
"We felt it was important that the Art Farm be a self-sustainable place not tied to the traditional grid while maintaining the creature comforts of the 21st century," Thomas says. The primary dwelling, made from wood and corrugated iron, features bold colors and sharp angles, as seen in the butterfly roofline and geometric windows.
"The main house is elevated approximately 36 inches on piers to allow air to flow freely around the structure, which helps control mold and keep the house cool," says Thomas. "The pier design also allowed us to level the house while leaving the natural slope of the land lightly touched."
The 960-square-foot primary residence "is oriented along the east/west axis, maximizing the northern view of the Pacific Ocean and the southern view of Haleakalā," says Thomas.
The main dwelling features a colorful, industrial aesthetic offset by white-painted walls and ceilings, as well as warm, wooden details and floors. Yellow steel beams frame the dining room near the open kitchen, which blends a darker palette with stainless-steel appliances.
In the living room, a multipaned glazed wall captures ocean views.
"The bedroom is designed to take advantage of the cool nights and incredible starry night sky," says Thomas.
Vertical roll-up doors connect the bedroom to an enclosed veranda-style seating area.
A workspace above the primary bedroom looks out to the ocean through clerestory windows.
In the bathroom, a walk-in shower connects to an enclosed bath area via sliding glass doors.
A lofted cottage is sited on a heavily wooded part of the property. "The ‘nohana’ was designed to optimize space on a small footprint and capture the views of the ocean," Thomas says.
"The shed roof design allows for a vaulted ceiling and sleeping loft," Thomas says. "Two large attic fans high on the north wall create a natural air-conditioning system."
Near the main residence, a wellness center includes an infrared sauna and a 40-foot container swimming pool.
The indoor/outdoor fitness area lets in fresh breezes and ocean views through a large, glass-panel garage door. The elevated structure has storage space below for garden/lawn equipment.
The property also includes a building workshop/barn with a spacious home theater and an adjacent carport. The four-space garage "serves as the main structure for the 30-panel solar array, the solar control center, and electric car-charging station," says Thomas.
The home theater boasts a 110-inch projection screen.
"For the barn, we chose a Quonset hut structure, inspired by its historic impact on the island," Thomas says. "The Quonset hut design is an extremely durable, efficient, and effective way to enclose space with no interior structure required."
Between the main residence and the wellness center is an outdoor kitchen that is "covered by a large, curved roof, similar to the Quonset design, with an additional 18 solar panels," says Thomas. The al fresco area has a built-in grill, cooktop, sink, and large fire pit, as well as ample seating.
"We chose to site the buildings as far back from the road as possible, approximately 800-feet from the private section of Awalau Road," says Thomas.
796 Awalau Road in Haiku, Hawaii, is currently listed for $3,995,000 by Linda Jean Briske and Maeghan Pocock of Island Sotheby’s International Realty.
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