* Contributing architect
Born in Vladivostok, Russia in 1907 and raised in Japan until 1923, Vladimir Ossipoff traveled to the United States to attend college. He studied at the University of California at Berkeley completing college in 1931.
While working for architectural firms in Los Angeles and San Francisco, Ossipoff received a phone call that changed his life. Douglas Slaten, a college roommate currently living in Honolulu, invited Ossipoff to live and work in Hawaii. In December of 1932 Vladimir Ossipoff followed his friends advice and made the journey to Hawaii. Impressed by the quality of architecture that had already existed, Ossipoff found Hawaii to be a fertile environment for work.
Ossipoff followed the lead of Hawaii's 'First Wave' of architects, those who were born in or had family relations in the Islands. Among the 'First Wave' was the influential C.W. Dickey, a prolific architect who Ossipoff would soon collaborate with. The 'Second Wave' consisted of architects trained in the United States, generally older and well rounded in their trade. The 'Third Wave' consisted of Asian draftsmen and landscapers, adding to the diversity of the group.
These varied influences became Hawaii's introduction to the International Style of architecture with an emphasis on modern technologies and a keen sensitivity to the environment. During this time, Hawaii experienced it's greatest architectural period of growth as the need for homes and businesses skyrocketed.
The combination of Hawaii's rapidly developing population and the need for quick yet elegant solutions provided a perfect environment for the architects of the time to feature their talents. Many of the buildings that were built during this time period are now considered some of the State's best examples of 'Hawaiian Architecture'.
Vladimir Ossipoff particularly excelled, becoming as prolific as his predecessors, and creating a body of work that, to this day, remains fresh and innovative.
