Post #744790 by modernphoenix on Sat, Jun 13, 2015 3:08 PM

I just got done with an interview of Walter Nelson, of architecture firm Haver Nunn and Nelson here in Phoenix, and he says that the design of this Shelter Island hotel is the handiwork of Jim Salter, who worked for Dick Wheeler at the same time Nelson did. Salter did all the legwork for researching the polynesian style. Nelson says that Salter also designed the yacht club for Wheeler.

Salter was with Wheeler's firm for about one and a half years. This was likely after he dropped out of Arizona State University architecture school, but it never held him back -- he had a very successful career here in Phoenix with Haver and Nunn, then on his own in Honolulu. He died too soon. Here are some highlights of the Salter style, of which the spectacular Kon Tiki on Van Buren in Phoenix is likely the image you are most familiar with :)

http://modernphoenix.net/haver/salterbio.htm
http://modernphoenix.net/haver/kontiki.htm