Maui’s incredible climate lends itself to the types of design that emphasize the natural beauty of the Valley Isle. When designing a home, it’s important to consider this, along with other elements such as the topography of your home’s location.
As part of a larger design style called “biophilic,” designing your home to enhance the natural light makes perfect sense here. The idea behind the biophilic design is to improve the connection between people and nature, improving both productivity and well-being.
Natural lighting plays a key role in biophilic design, as it helps to create a much healthier environment by mirroring the sun’s natural light cycles. It also reduces the need for artificial lighting, which can increase energy costs and have negative impacts on human health and the environment. Designing buildings that maximize the use of natural light and allow for connection with the outdoors, biophilic design can improve the quality of indoor environments and bring well-being to the occupants.
Open Concept Floorplans
This isn’t anything new, but it lets the natural light flow throughout the home. Instead of a defined kitchen, living room, and dining area, these are left open as a common area. Without walls and doors, Maui’s beautiful surroundings can be enjoyed more easily throughout those areas.
The open concept allows natural sunlight to flow more easily through an open space. Some homes have an indoor/outdoor floor plan which connects the two living areas and maximizes the amount of light throughout the space.
Designing to Enhance Natural Light
When designing, your windows’ placement should be a primary consideration for natural light.
• Locating your windows on the east and west sides of the home maximize natural light. Larger windows on the north side of the house bring in more diffused light.
• Skylights allow an ample amount of natural light into a room and reduce the need for artificial lighting.
While bigger windows also let in additional light, they may not be the best idea in Maui. When Mother Nature’s wrath reaches Maui’s shores, smaller windows are easier to protect with storm shutters and other barriers. Storm-resistant windows add to a home’s stability in the face of Maui’s changing and occasionally inclement weather.
Emphasizing Natural Maui Light
More ways to enhance the natural lighting in your Maui property:
1. Use light colors for walls and roofs to both reflect natural light and brighten up the interior spaces.
2. Add reflective surfaces like mirrors, metal, and glass to “bounce” the light throughout the room and increase its overall brightness.
3. Use of glass walls or doors as transparent partitions instead of solid ones to allow light to flow between rooms.
4. Incorporate greenery: plants and trees located outside windows diffuse light and provide privacy.
5. Avoid using heavy curtains, blinds, or furniture that blocks natural light from space.
These design elements will maximize the natural light coming into your home to make it feel bigger, brighter, and roomier.
Call Pro Draft For All Your Architectural And Interior Design Needs
When you’re ready to begin building a house in Maui, remodel one, or add to your home or commercial property, Pro Draft is ready to help with architecture, drawings, blueprints, and permits, and to answer all of your questions before the first day of construction. We’re happy to help and will work to ensure your project is exactly the way you envision.
Call Pro Draft today at (808) 579-9050 or 1-800-499-4699 from the Mainland
