Heath and Commune @ the SF Ferry Building

I wanted to share the shots of our completed Ferry Building Store and its’ design. We worked with Commune Design again (as we did for our LA store), and it was a fantastic collaboration. Here’s a little more about why we did what we did in the Ferry Building and why I think it works…

To me the Ferry Building is a center  of a lot of good things that are happening and being produced in San Francisco.  Being there emphasizes our commitment to being a focused local company, and gives us the perfect outlet to explain why we do what we do.  The key to making the store work on all levels was working with Commune. They really nailed how Heath could create an appropriate retail store. Before we started to work with them (when we were thinking about LA) I really didn’t think I could find anyone who would really “get” what I wanted to convey in a store. First, I didn’t want our space to feel like just a store (so in LA we had the concept to have Adam’s studio visible right in the space), then I was terrified that any designer we would hire would not be able to get the right balance between “current design” and “classic heath”. I wanted that mixed with a current California vibe, and our strong mid-century roots. I didn’t want anything “of the moment” or cliche “mid-century”.  Commune created the perfect balance, in function and material. Heath’s store in the Ferry Building is highly functional, has a great balance of color and materials, and still let’s the product take the center stage. Most of all it doesn’t look like it’s trying too hard. The wood mixed with ceramic speaks to the straightforward nature of our message, and the orange steel highlights our love of contrast and color. It’s just a great mix of the right materials to work with our ceramics, and appropriate proportions to highlight what we’ll selling. The space is inviting, and at the end of the day (literally) it all rolls into a little 300 square foot box. It’s also consistent with the look and feel of LA, and obviously inspired by our class 1959 Marquis and Stoller Factory and store in Sausalito.

I almost forgot, it’s Earthday, notice there’s no packaging…it’s key to the whole thing, and it’s not just for the look. (though it’s integral to the successful feel of the store).  There’s no packaging to dispose of after inventory is moved from the factory, we just don’t do it. If you can make it to any of our three stores to get your Heath, the only packaging that will touch your Heathware is some used newspaper. That makes my day.

-cathy

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