See Arch designs Maui house around its site's views
This Maui house is a private retreat focused on its plot's striking views, and designed by San Francisco-based See Arch

Travis Rowan - Photography
This retirement property is all about views. To the north are this Maui house’s horse paddock, orchards and ocean vista, and to the south is the peak of Haleakalā volcano. The clients bought the land decades ago. The site is on Hawaii’s second biggest island, on a hillside in the village of Haiku on the north shore, and is a very visible project, says architect Sarah Ebner of See Arch: ‘But it was designed to be terraced into the hill, to embrace the natural topography and minimise its overall impact on the site.'
Maui Retreat’s ocean view gets a dramatic ‘reveal’ as visitors enter the oversized (1.5m to 3.5m) pivot front door. ‘Pivot doors are tactile and require such intentional operation that we all felt it was an appropriate fit for this moment,' adds Ebner, who founded See Arch in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2016 as a women-owned and -operated design studio (they worked on this project with Nick Wagner Architects as architects' of record). The house is divided into two wings: the two-storey east wing is the private wing and the west wing (which just has an upper level) is for entertaining.
Meanwhile, those inside the 600 sq m house can look both north and south from the common rooms and main bedroom on the top floor. And all those windows were treated as a design feature beyond simply framing the spectacular views from the plot, Ebner says: ‘They were placed to create moments of connectivity between indoor rooms, outdoor courtyards and across the home.' Meanwhile, two garden courtyards connect interior spaces to verdant Maui planting.
Inside, there are travertine wall finishes, warm cedar ceilings and more industrial plywood-formed concrete elements. With its subdued finishes and feature walls, Ebner explains, ‘the interior architecture was to remain understated', to emphasise not just the views but also the clients’ art collection. Their eclectic collection of high and low art, ranges from 10th-century sculpture to contemporary paintings. Ebner and her team worked carefully with the clients, following their lead in choosing what pieces to showcase where.
‘We pulled inspiration from gallery moments, while imagining the interiors to open out and almost disappear into the site beyond,' she adds.
INFORMATION
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Clare Dowdy is a London-based freelance design and architecture journalist who has written for titles including Wallpaper*, BBC, Monocle and the Financial Times. She’s the author of ‘Made In London: From Workshops to Factories’ and co-author of ‘Made in Ibiza: A Journey into the Creative Heart of the White Island’.
-
A new hilltop California home is rooted in the landscape and celebrates views of nature
WOJR's California home House of Horns is a meticulously planned modern villa that seeps into its surrounding landscape through a series of sculptural courtyards
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Is a tiny tattoo the best holiday souvenir? Kimpton Hotels think so
In partnership with Tiny Zaps, Kimpton Hotels is bringing city-inspired tattoo pop-ups to five U.S. locations
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
‘I love the elevation of everyday objects' – Scott's Shop is a curated luxury store, prioritising beauty in the mundane
Scott's Shop's unique selections of rugs and objects are carefully crafted from around the world
By Tianna Williams Published
-
A new hilltop California home is rooted in the landscape and celebrates views of nature
WOJR's California home House of Horns is a meticulously planned modern villa that seeps into its surrounding landscape through a series of sculptural courtyards
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
The Frick Collection's expansion by Selldorf Architects is both surgical and delicate
The New York cultural institution gets a $220 million glow-up
By Stephanie Murg Published
-
Remembering architect David M Childs (1941-2025) and his New York skyline legacy
David M Childs, a former chairman of architectural powerhouse SOM, has passed away. We celebrate his professional achievements
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
The upcoming Zaha Hadid Architects projects set to transform the horizon
A peek at Zaha Hadid Architects’ future projects, which will comprise some of the most innovative and intriguing structures in the world
By Anna Solomon Published
-
Frank Lloyd Wright’s last house has finally been built – and you can stay there
Frank Lloyd Wright’s final residential commission, RiverRock, has come to life. But, constructed 66 years after his death, can it be considered a true ‘Wright’?
By Anna Solomon Published
-
Heritage and conservation after the fires: what’s next for Los Angeles?
In the second instalment of our 'Rebuilding LA' series, we explore a way forward for historical treasures under threat
By Mimi Zeiger Published
-
Why this rare Frank Lloyd Wright house is considered one of Chicago’s ‘most endangered’ buildings
The JJ Walser House has sat derelict for six years. But preservationists hope the building will have a vibrant second act
By Anna Fixsen Published
-
Buy a slice of California’s midcentury modern history with this 1955 Pasadena house
Conrad Buff II Residence has been fully restored and updated for the 21st century
By Jonathan Bell Published