Alfred Preis

Public spaces and buildings for communities

Through his career as an architect, Alfred Preis consistently pursued and advocated for the preservation of the natural environment of Hawai‘i and for public spaces for all, not only for a wealthy elite. This manifested in a range of urban planning, public space, master plans, and several public projects, most of which were produced pro bono in the hope to generate public interest and investors.

In the 1940’s, finding himself out of work during the war-time years after his release from internment, he formed the partnership Associated Architects together with his colleagues, Vladimir Ossipoff, Philip Fisk, Allen Johnson, and Thomas Perkins to pursue government projects, primarily public schools and military and veterans’ housings.

These projects engaged the public in novel ways with Preis seeking direct input from his target audiences, the eventual occupants. Parallel to this involvement, he sought to advocate for the protection and preservation of the natural beauty of Hawai‘i, predating more significant environmental activism by decades.

Preis’s investment in these public projects and activities is reflected in a selection of projects that range from recreational park facilities to two major architectural projects, cementing his position as one of Hawaii’s most prominent, celebrated architects at the time, especially through projects such as the Laupāhoehoe Elementary and High School, as well as the First United Methodist Church in Honolulu. One of his last built public projects, the renowned Honolulu Zoo entrance serves as a showcase of his skills to combine modernism with regional influences.