Maui Architect | copyright Greg Bayless 2012-2024 | All Rights Reserved
(2024 – nearing completion)
I’m Greg Bayless. I’ve been practicing architecture on Maui for 35 years. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of designing many types of buildings while meeting wonderful people along the way.
My passion is quality and beauty with a deep appreciation for detail that contributes to the whole project. Since 2000, I’ve chosen to focus almost exclusively on designing luxury homes. My creativity is best expressed in working with clients to accomplish a shared vision. I see each residential project as a three-dimensional, functional work of art which must nurture the lives of the people who are going to live there.
Each person’s vision of their perfect environment is individual, and originality naturally follows. Each house we’ve created is prized by its owners for its uniqueness. The market has shown an appreciation as well, as some of my homes have been sold and command higher than expected value – even in a down market. There are sound business reasons to create good design.
My homes respect both the land and the vision of the owner. If I had to characterize a common thread that runs through my houses, it would be Pan-Pacific Contemporary – which is a way of saying: A technically up-to-date home in an island style that ‘lives’ well with the specific microclimate and location on the island.
Many of the homes have design references appropriate to the Islands’ spirit. I’m inspired by my clients’ hopes and ideas which help me understand what they appreciate and how they want to live. The overall goal is to transform the clients’ dreams into a beautiful practicality. I take the raw materials of these dreams and execute in free form by integrating the key elements into an architectural reality. I have been privileged to work in partnership with highly reputable builders – allowing trust to be firmly established – and, together, we have been able to provide clients with a process that is richly rewarding, satisfying and fun. While it’s widely known that building a new house can be stressful, many past clients actually miss the process and creative relationship when it’s complete. We have ongoing projects with quite a few clients, and we maintain great friendships and cordiality with all.
Maui is unique: informal, yet sophisticated. Eccentric, but reliable and stable. Maui is also enduringly beautiful – and I believe art and architecture should reflect that beauty in the most natural ways possible.
Each home is different, just as each work of art is different. I strive to create compositions that are pleasing . . . sanctuaries where you’ll enjoy living over the long term.
When appropriate, I include cultural references. It’s important that those references be respectful, subtle, refined and authentic. Architecture in the resort communities of the Hawaiian Islands is unique, because of the emphasis which starts as vacationing and becomes long-lasting as clients spend more and more time here.
There are several key ground rules of design that we follow:
The homes included on this site represent various styles. Many clients, especially high-profile or famous people, have asked me not to publicize their homes. I am particularly proud to have designed the Hotel Wailea. The tall cylindrical public spaces are unique and were inspired by a ribbed, paper drink umbrella. The hotel is the only Relais & Chateau hotel in Hawaii. www.RelaisChateaux.com/us/hotel/hotel-wailea
Early on in an engagement, my clients and I develop a smooth communication style . . . which we maintain throughout the life of the project. We are able to speak honestly – and always with complete mutual respect – about all kinds of issues. Such collaboration ultimately produces unique results which become an intimate reflection of my clients’ lives and personal style.
I work with a team of professionals whom I’ve known for years: Structural, Civil, Mechanical and Electrical engineers and designers. Together, we design unique homes that are as sound functionally as they are beautiful.
Over the past 43 years, I’ve forged deep alliances and trust relationships with all the people who have a hand in the process of constructing new homes on the island. People at the County of Maui, vendors, consultants – I’m fortunate to know all of these people; and they trust me to work with them with integrity and honesty, as I do with my clients.
Design and construction almost inevitably carry with them stress and difficulties, so I am pleased to relate that my clients tell me they enjoy the experience of designing and building.
I take on projects with clients that understand and appreciate this kind of experience.
My father was a general contractor and, together with my mother, designed many wonderful projects. I grew up on construction sites and spent summers and holidays building. This provided an apprenticeship in two trades along with my architectural studies.
I put myself through school working construction. These experiences produced understanding that serves me well in creating beautiful designs that are practical to build, functional and enduring.
I earned my Master of Architecture degree from Arizona State University in Tempe. I taught design as a graduate assistant and was awarded the Senior Prize for the design of my final Master’s project and was on the Dean’s list for scholastic achievement through those years.
I moved to Maui as a very young married man. Over the 23 years of our marriage, we raised four children (two of whom live here), and I’ve learned a lot about how life and business on Maui work. My former partner, Leona Bayless Morgan, is a very successful designer here on Maui; and we frequently collaborate on projects together. I am now married to Hutt Bush, a business advisor and writer.
For many years, I was privileged to be business partners with Tim Farrington at our firm, Farrington-Bayless Architects. We still informally collaborate on projects. Tim is also one of Maui’s leading real estate developers; and we maintain deep admiration and respect for each other.
I am now the Principal of Bayless Architects where I have chosen to focus on fewer projects – which allows the luxury of time for highly personal, hands-on attention.