Location: Honomu, HI
Owner: Doug Lung
Architect: Greg Higgins
Structural Engineer: David Thomas, PE, KPFF Consulting Engineers, Seattle, WA
Steel and panel components: HabiTek, LLC
Scope: 2470ft2; 3 bed, 2 bath
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- Honomu House: HabiTek Framework Rendering
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- Note that the lanai railing balusters and rods are installed at this early stage of frame assembly. The powdered coated balusters connect to the same pre-drilled holes used by the system’s beams and brackets; thus, some finish work is in place almost from the start.
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- Crew members tighten bolts to connect steel outriggers to the framework. Various types of outriggers are fabricated to support room cantilevers and roof overhangs, and are bolted to the HUBS using the same threaded holes used to fasten beams in place. Note that the steel beams will be exposed and eventually painted. Thus far, all HabiTek’s customers have elected to expose the steel components.
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- A post being installed during the Honomu House construction.
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- A two-person team positions a beam in place as the assembly process approaches the topping off event. Although not for the faint of heart at this height, all HabiTek components are sized to be handled by no more than two able-bodied persons.
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- Roof decking is air-nailed to a wood sleeper which was previously screwed to the rafter beam. The HabiTek systems is designed for a relatively seamless integration with standard dimensional lumber. This approach is called a hybrid system.
The design combines a classic 4-square plan with Hawaii Plantation house elements, such as north facing lanais on both floors. Two floors of living space and a daylight basement surround a stair tower culminating in a observation deck for whale watching. The tower is also a passive stack ventilation system. The owner, a broadcast engineer, plans to install various antennae and weather monitoring devices atop the tower.
“I provided structural engineering assistance to Greg Higgins and HabiTek during the development of the system and the design of the Bunk House, Country Cottage and the Honomu House projects. The steel HabiTek components are lightweight, strong, and precisely made, and they fit together quickly and easily, using just hand tools. I know this first hand. I once visited the County Cottage during construction, and pitched in with the crew for an afternoon. It was actually quite enjoyable to help assemble.
Combined with wood, floor and roof panels, or even steel X-bracing, the system creates a tough, well connected structure able to resist earthquakes, high winds, and heavy floor and roof loads. The steel components provide a resilient well connected framework to secure the enclosure panels which participate in resisting lateral forces.”
–Dave Thomas, P.E., S.E.