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Liljestrand House

Excellent
  • Mid-Century Modern
  • Identity of Building/Site
  • History of Building/Site

Liljestrand House

Site overview

The Liljestrand House on Mount Tantalus in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a single-family home, completed in 1952. It is one of the masterworks of architect Vladimir Ossipoff, who worked in Hawaii from 1930 until his death in 1998. Commissioned by Dr. Howard and Betty Liljestrand in 1948 and built by R. Takahashi, general contractor, the Liljestrand House attained international recognition upon its publication in House Beautiful magazine as the “Pace Setter Home of 1958.” Ossipoff designed the house to showcase the 270-degree view of Honolulu from atop the mountain ridge. The natural beauty of the surrounding forest was an important element incorporated into the design. The Liljestrand family remained lifelong friends with Ossipoff and no changes were ever made to the structure or interior elements of the house, including furnishings and artwork, without consulting him. The Liljestrand Foundation was created in 2007 with the vision of preserving the house, its site and archives, and making that preservation beneficial to the global community.

Liljestrand House

Site overview

The Liljestrand House on Mount Tantalus in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a single-family home, completed in 1952. It is one of the masterworks of architect Vladimir Ossipoff, who worked in Hawaii from 1930 until his death in 1998. Commissioned by Dr. Howard and Betty Liljestrand in 1948 and built by R. Takahashi, general contractor, the Liljestrand House attained international recognition upon its publication in House Beautiful magazine as the “Pace Setter Home of 1958.” Ossipoff designed the house to showcase the 270-degree view of Honolulu from atop the mountain ridge. The natural beauty of the surrounding forest was an important element incorporated into the design. The Liljestrand family remained lifelong friends with Ossipoff and no changes were ever made to the structure or interior elements of the house, including furnishings and artwork, without consulting him. The Liljestrand Foundation was created in 2007 with the vision of preserving the house, its site and archives, and making that preservation beneficial to the global community.

Liljestrand House

Site overview

The Liljestrand House on Mount Tantalus in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a single-family home, completed in 1952. It is one of the masterworks of architect Vladimir Ossipoff, who worked in Hawaii from 1930 until his death in 1998. Commissioned by Dr. Howard and Betty Liljestrand in 1948 and built by R. Takahashi, general contractor, the Liljestrand House attained international recognition upon its publication in House Beautiful magazine as the “Pace Setter Home of 1958.” Ossipoff designed the house to showcase the 270-degree view of Honolulu from atop the mountain ridge. The natural beauty of the surrounding forest was an important element incorporated into the design. The Liljestrand family remained lifelong friends with Ossipoff and no changes were ever made to the structure or interior elements of the house, including furnishings and artwork, without consulting him. The Liljestrand Foundation was created in 2007 with the vision of preserving the house, its site and archives, and making that preservation beneficial to the global community.

Liljestrand House

Site overview

The Liljestrand House on Mount Tantalus in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a single-family home, completed in 1952. It is one of the masterworks of architect Vladimir Ossipoff, who worked in Hawaii from 1930 until his death in 1998. Commissioned by Dr. Howard and Betty Liljestrand in 1948 and built by R. Takahashi, general contractor, the Liljestrand House attained international recognition upon its publication in House Beautiful magazine as the “Pace Setter Home of 1958.” Ossipoff designed the house to showcase the 270-degree view of Honolulu from atop the mountain ridge. The natural beauty of the surrounding forest was an important element incorporated into the design. The Liljestrand family remained lifelong friends with Ossipoff and no changes were ever made to the structure or interior elements of the house, including furnishings and artwork, without consulting him. The Liljestrand Foundation was created in 2007 with the vision of preserving the house, its site and archives, and making that preservation beneficial to the global community.

Liljestrand House

Site overview

The Liljestrand House on Mount Tantalus in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a single-family home, completed in 1952. It is one of the masterworks of architect Vladimir Ossipoff, who worked in Hawaii from 1930 until his death in 1998. Commissioned by Dr. Howard and Betty Liljestrand in 1948 and built by R. Takahashi, general contractor, the Liljestrand House attained international recognition upon its publication in House Beautiful magazine as the “Pace Setter Home of 1958.” Ossipoff designed the house to showcase the 270-degree view of Honolulu from atop the mountain ridge. The natural beauty of the surrounding forest was an important element incorporated into the design. The Liljestrand family remained lifelong friends with Ossipoff and no changes were ever made to the structure or interior elements of the house, including furnishings and artwork, without consulting him. The Liljestrand Foundation was created in 2007 with the vision of preserving the house, its site and archives, and making that preservation beneficial to the global community.

Liljestrand House

Site overview

The Liljestrand House on Mount Tantalus in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a single-family home, completed in 1952. It is one of the masterworks of architect Vladimir Ossipoff, who worked in Hawaii from 1930 until his death in 1998. Commissioned by Dr. Howard and Betty Liljestrand in 1948 and built by R. Takahashi, general contractor, the Liljestrand House attained international recognition upon its publication in House Beautiful magazine as the “Pace Setter Home of 1958.” Ossipoff designed the house to showcase the 270-degree view of Honolulu from atop the mountain ridge. The natural beauty of the surrounding forest was an important element incorporated into the design. The Liljestrand family remained lifelong friends with Ossipoff and no changes were ever made to the structure or interior elements of the house, including furnishings and artwork, without consulting him. The Liljestrand Foundation was created in 2007 with the vision of preserving the house, its site and archives, and making that preservation beneficial to the global community.

Liljestrand House

Site overview

The Liljestrand House on Mount Tantalus in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a single-family home, completed in 1952. It is one of the masterworks of architect Vladimir Ossipoff, who worked in Hawaii from 1930 until his death in 1998. Commissioned by Dr. Howard and Betty Liljestrand in 1948 and built by R. Takahashi, general contractor, the Liljestrand House attained international recognition upon its publication in House Beautiful magazine as the “Pace Setter Home of 1958.” Ossipoff designed the house to showcase the 270-degree view of Honolulu from atop the mountain ridge. The natural beauty of the surrounding forest was an important element incorporated into the design. The Liljestrand family remained lifelong friends with Ossipoff and no changes were ever made to the structure or interior elements of the house, including furnishings and artwork, without consulting him. The Liljestrand Foundation was created in 2007 with the vision of preserving the house, its site and archives, and making that preservation beneficial to the global community.

Liljestrand House

Site overview

The Liljestrand House on Mount Tantalus in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a single-family home, completed in 1952. It is one of the masterworks of architect Vladimir Ossipoff, who worked in Hawaii from 1930 until his death in 1998. Commissioned by Dr. Howard and Betty Liljestrand in 1948 and built by R. Takahashi, general contractor, the Liljestrand House attained international recognition upon its publication in House Beautiful magazine as the “Pace Setter Home of 1958.” Ossipoff designed the house to showcase the 270-degree view of Honolulu from atop the mountain ridge. The natural beauty of the surrounding forest was an important element incorporated into the design. The Liljestrand family remained lifelong friends with Ossipoff and no changes were ever made to the structure or interior elements of the house, including furnishings and artwork, without consulting him. The Liljestrand Foundation was created in 2007 with the vision of preserving the house, its site and archives, and making that preservation beneficial to the global community.

Liljestrand House

Site overview

The Liljestrand House on Mount Tantalus in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a single-family home, completed in 1952. It is one of the masterworks of architect Vladimir Ossipoff, who worked in Hawaii from 1930 until his death in 1998. Commissioned by Dr. Howard and Betty Liljestrand in 1948 and built by R. Takahashi, general contractor, the Liljestrand House attained international recognition upon its publication in House Beautiful magazine as the “Pace Setter Home of 1958.” Ossipoff designed the house to showcase the 270-degree view of Honolulu from atop the mountain ridge. The natural beauty of the surrounding forest was an important element incorporated into the design. The Liljestrand family remained lifelong friends with Ossipoff and no changes were ever made to the structure or interior elements of the house, including furnishings and artwork, without consulting him. The Liljestrand Foundation was created in 2007 with the vision of preserving the house, its site and archives, and making that preservation beneficial to the global community.

Liljestrand House

Site overview

The Liljestrand House on Mount Tantalus in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a single-family home, completed in 1952. It is one of the masterworks of architect Vladimir Ossipoff, who worked in Hawaii from 1930 until his death in 1998. Commissioned by Dr. Howard and Betty Liljestrand in 1948 and built by R. Takahashi, general contractor, the Liljestrand House attained international recognition upon its publication in House Beautiful magazine as the “Pace Setter Home of 1958.” Ossipoff designed the house to showcase the 270-degree view of Honolulu from atop the mountain ridge. The natural beauty of the surrounding forest was an important element incorporated into the design. The Liljestrand family remained lifelong friends with Ossipoff and no changes were ever made to the structure or interior elements of the house, including furnishings and artwork, without consulting him. The Liljestrand Foundation was created in 2007 with the vision of preserving the house, its site and archives, and making that preservation beneficial to the global community.

Primary classification

Residential (RES)

Terms of protection


Designations

National Register of Historic Places (2008)
Hawaii State Register of Historic Places (2008)

How to Visit

Open to public by advance reservation.

Explore Modern Partnership

Docomomo US members receive a discounted rate of 20% off the regular ticketed rate for 90-minute group tours. Use the code included in your membership email or reach out to info@docomomo-us.org.
  

More sites in the Explore Modern Partnership

Location

Liljestrand House

3300 Tantalus Dr
Honolulu, HI, 96822
More visitation information

Case Study House No. 21

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Designer(s)

Vladimir Ossipoff

Architect

Nationality

American, Russian

Related News

Liljestrand House joins Explore Modern Partnership

Membership, Hawaii, Explore Modern

December 06, 2023

Related chapter

Hawaii

Related Sites

Completion

1952

Original Brief

The Liljestrand House on Mount Tantalus in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a single-family home, completed in 1952. It is one of the masterworks of architect Vladimir Ossipoff, who worked in Hawaii from 1930 until his death in 1998. Commissioned by Dr. Howard and Betty Liljestrand in 1948 and built by R. Takahashi, general contractor, the Liljestrand House attained international recognition upon its publication in House Beautiful magazine as the “Pace Setter Home of 1958.”

The house has an irregular H-shaped floor plan, with one wing set at a 45-degree angle. The foundation is made of reinforced concrete blocks. The house is constructed of redwood which has been managed with a variety of treatments to fit the feeling and flow of the floor plan. The sheet metal roof is cross gabled. Ossipoff designed the house to showcase the 270-degree view of Honolulu from atop the mountain ridge. The natural beauty of the surrounding forest was an important element incorporated into the design. The use of floor-to-ceiling windows and walls that slide away entirely opens the house to the outdoors.

The Liljestrand family remained lifelong friends with Ossipoff and no changes were ever made to the structure or interior elements of the house, including furnishings and artwork, without consulting him. The house remains almost exactly as it was when Dr. Liljestrand passed away in 2004. The Liljestrand Foundation was created by the Liljestrand family in 2007 with the vision of preserving the house, its site, and archives, and making that preservation beneficial to the global community. Preservation of the house is made possible through donations and public tour and program revenues.

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