Washington State’s Whatcom Museum Gets a ‘Lightcatching’ LEED Silver Addition

The city of Bellingham, located 90 miles from Seattle, Washington recently welcomed a wonderful new addition to their downtown arts and cultural district. Built to <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2005/05/03/what-is-leed/">LEED Silver</a> standards, the <a href="http://www.olsonkundigarchitects.com/Projects/170/The-Lightcatcher-at-the-Whatcom-Museum#">Lightcatcher</a> at the <a href="http://www.whatcommuseum.org/">Whatcom Museum </a>is a stunning modern construction designed by<a href="http://www.olsonkundigarchitects.com/"> Olson Kundig Architects</a> that features a green roof above the lobby, a rainwater harvesting system, pervious paving, double-skin curtain wall glazing, and natural ventilation in its public gathering spaces. Eco-friendly, attractive, and far from a pit for esoteric <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/art">art</a>, all of the endeavors held within create an inspiring haven for everyone from curious young kids to the most discerning of critics.

Housing exhibitions of art, Northwest history, and nature’s treasures, the Lightcatcher is the perfect spot to enjoy a splendid afternoon strolling within or an evening out on the green roof with family and friends.

At the heart of the new addition is a 36-foot-tall, 180-foot-long translucent Lightcatcher.

The wall that bridges the interior and exterior and creates a spacious public courtyard.

But above all, it forms an incredible eco-friendly <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/green-lighting">light fixture</a> that provides the interior spaces with an abundance of luminous natural light and ventilation.

Visitors can enjoy a comfortable interior while basking in natural light as they walk through the gallery.

The curvature of the floor-to-ceiling light-catching panels also provide a varied quality of dynamic light throughout the day.

As the sun sets the walls are just as beautiful as the art displayed in the space.

Visitors to Whatcom can enjoy an array of exhibitions ranging from art to history to nature.

The completed museum makes smart use of locally available materials.

What could otherwise be seen as a stark and barren interior is infused with a soft glow from the core light catching wall. Warm wood ceilings and semi-polished flooring enhance the effect.

A spacious lobby welcomes visitors to the museum.

The Lightcatcher is excellent example of institutional design within an urban context that is able to effectively minimize eco-impact while maximizing the existing natural conditions of its site.

[gallery_extend]....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/seattles-whatcom-museum-gets-a-lightcatching-leed-silver-addition/'>READ ARTICLE</a>