wakanine Proudly sharing exceptional design from the Heron corners Hall, Bainbridge of the globe Island, with Washington North America Heron Hall
What s in a Name When I was trying to make the final decision to buy the land I was agonizing over the pros and cons and so I decided to walk the site one last time, hoping for some sign that this was the right place to raise my family for the next couple decades. I parked my car on the side of the road and walked towards it suddenly a giant crow swooped down in front of me and landed right next to me cackling and making all kinds of noises. In my imagination I felt it was welcoming me. As I carried forth onto the site I went down to the creek and suddenly a giant frog jumped clear over my feet Ribbit! Ribbit! That was special I thought! And finally as I lifted my head a large heron swooped down overhead, not twenty feet from me. Three signs within 2 minutes all of which are amongst my favorite animals. Growing up I was fascinated by the story The Wind in the Willows, a delightful story about 3 animals that lived next to a river and swamp and had great adventures together. Toad Hall has always figured large in my imagination so I decided to name my house Heron Hall. Jason F. McLennan Designer, Owner and Occupier
About the Space Jason F. McLennan designed and built his own home to comply with the exacting standards of the Living Building Challenge that he also authored as founder and chairman of the International Living Future Institute. Jason s design challenge was made all the more personal as Heron Hall is where the McLennan family call home. Heron Hall, is a groundbreaking living building and laboratory for living building materials and strategies. Extensive use of insulated structural rammed earth walls form interior and exterior surfaces, other exterior walls utilize Yakisugi (charred wood finish). Re-claimed and repurposed materials are found throughout; no drywall is used. Living buildings often present challenges to local jurisdictions, in this case, Heron Hall is the first building in the community off the water grid.
The Living Building Challenge Jason F. McLennan is the author of the Living Building Challenge (LBC), a green building-certification system widely regarded as the world s most stringent. LBC comprises a host of tough-to-satisfy requirements, including submission of 12 months of post-occupancy data to demonstrate net zero operations for energy and water. Only 15 projects have achieved full Living Building status since the program s launch in 2007 and Heron Hall is aiming to be one of those buildings.
I met David many years ago and was always taken by his philosophy and design inspiration with nature. It was an instant fit with my own philosophy and when it was time to build my Living Building home - I wanted to showcase David s work Jason McLennan Architect, Designer, Owner and Occupier Heron Hall has a large double height volume in it - so we needed lights with real presence - that could occupy the volume with dignity, yet spoke to our sustainability values. There is something magical at night that happens when the lights are on and the patterns are cast on our walls. Its like living in a beautiful fantasy. The idea that a great pendant that is very large can fit within a small box for ease of shipping is fantastic. It speaks to the thoroughness of the intention - maximum beauty with minimum impact
I met David many years ago and was always taken by his philosophy and design inspiration with nature. It was an instant fit with my own philosophy and when it was time to build my Living Building home - I wanted to showcase David s work. Heron Hall has a large double height volume in it - so we needed lights with real presence - that could occupy the volume with dignity, yet spoke to our sustainability values. There is something magical at night that happens when the lights are on and the patterns are cast on our walls. Its like living in a beautiful fantasy. The idea that a great pendant that is very large can fit within a small box for ease of shipping is fantastic. It speaks to the thoroughness of the intention - maximum beauty with minimum impact. Jason F. McLennan Designer, Owner and Occupier
We were delighted to participate and contribute to the Heron Hall project. Jason s design and execution are both breathtaking and ground breaking (in every way). The project is a model for how things should, and must, be done for the future of us all. The solar powered beer fridge is my favorite feature essential! John Cook Owner, wakanine
Heron Hall is an amazing and beautiful house that puts into practice all my strongly held beliefs about responsible design. Also being a Wind in the Willows fan, I love the name and all the associations it conjures up! I first met Jason a few years ago when he invited me to speak at their Living Future conference in Portland, Oregon. It was an inspiring event that inspired me to think more deeply about my design practice. Here was a rare occasion when I felt truly at home among people who shared my love and care for nature and people. But it was also the launch of my Beauty Matters talk, which started here as ten minutes and has since gone to be a full lecture. Thank you Jason for all that you have done. David Trubridge Founder & Design Director, David Trubridge Design
Fixtures in the Space Seed System These fixtures are part of the Seed System family. Seed System is a design philsophy developed by David Trubridge to minimizes the effects of shipping on the environment. This means thinking with this in mind right from design conception through to production, packaging and the consumer experience. On average every Seed System kitset is 1/30th of the size of a fully assembled light. The light is easy to construct by following printed instructions included with the kitset and an online video. 6 - Coral 1000mm (39 ) 4 - Coral 600mm (24 ) Natural Bamboo White Paint Finish (one sided) 4 - Hinaki 500mm (20 ) 2 - Hinaki Natural 900mm (35 ) Natural Bamboo White Paint Finish (one sided) Size options Size options Diameter 400mm (16 ) 600mm (24 ) 800mm (31 ) 1200mm (47 ) 1600mm (63 ) Height 500mm (20 ) 900mm (35 ) 1400mm (55 ) Diameter 170mm (7 ) 320mm (13 ) 500mm (20 ) Story Story Based on one of the geometric polyhedra that have interested David since he was a boy. Finish options Based on fish traps which are called hīnaki by Māori. Hīnaki traps were made from woven vines, some in beautiful forms. David Trubridge - Designer of Coral and Hinaki: I work within the limits of what I have and know, simplicity and low impact, natural materials and processes, leaving a delicate footprint.
Learn More Acknowledgements Location: Bainbridge Island, Washington Designer, Owner and Occupier: Jason F. McLennan North American Distributor: wakanine info@wakanine.com 512 284 9672 Light Fixtures: David Trubridge Design davidtrubridge.com David Trubridge Studio Hawke s Bay, New Zealand office@davidtrubridge.com + 64 6 650 0204 Photography: Daniel Banko, Banko Media Declan McLennan