Sacred geometry is an ancient science that explains the energy patterns that create and unify all things. All life forms are created out of geometric codes and it is said that every natural pattern of growth or movement comes back to one or more geometric shapes. Sacred geometric shapes have deep metaphysical meaning behind them and have been used by humans since ancient times in art, decor, and in religious and spiritual contexts.
Architect Gary Holbrook of HD Architecture Inc. and designer Piper Lucas of Piper Lucas Designs used the principles, patterns and proportions of sacred geometry to inform their design process for the creation of Hanai.
“Both Piper and I attended theory-based schools and Kim wanted the design to start with a specific intention. Using sacred geometry made the project easy because its principles ensure good form and proportion. I was attracted to Kim’s passion for bringing people together. She challenged us to rethink how architectural elements could be used to express a living space that could nestle into the site…one that would attract community members and make them feel like they were being embraced.” – Gary Holbrook
“Kim wanted the building to evoke a feeling. The shapes, sizes and materials you choose for architecture create and impact emotions. Working with the Smythes was a beautiful process because they trusted us with their ideas and allowed us to guide them as we worked through the design process together.” – Piper Lucas
After many iterations, the building’s design was finalized in the summer of 2018. Hanai is sited on county land and while Deschutes County’s planning and building departments were very helpful stewards of the project, the City of Bend’s review process and many requirements stalled progress for another year. Ground broke for the building of Hanai in 2019.
With reverence for Mother Nature and the application of the concepts of sacred geometry and the Flower of Life, the building includes many features that symbolize the natural world. The floorplan was designed as a series of hexagonal shapes, suggesting the strength and efficiency of a bee hive. “As a community, hives are the most structurally and socially stable,” says Lucas. The curving roof line and concave fascia gives a nod to the worker bee “waggle dance” that lets the hive (the rest of the community) know the route to take to find vital resources to nourish its members. The five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water are used artfully throughout the structure and include lighting fixtures by Andrew Wachs (www.weldstudio.com) and a “living” wall designed by Luke Sheridan. Twenty-three identical tree-shaped, vertical columns hold up Hanai’s roof; representing the members of the community who each hold up equal weight of the forest canopy, providing shelter to one another and all who enter Hanai. “You can stand back and see all the geometric layers that come together under one roof” says Hollbrook. The large Forest meeting room, and smaller Eagle and Earth rooms have distinctive features that will make gathering within each a truly unique, inspiring, and healing experience.
Hanai was designed and built with environmentally friendly materials and a strict adherence to sustainability practices. “The Smythes have a beautiful desire to give back and embrace the community. It was a dream to work with them”, says Lucas.
Hanai will be completed in the summer of 2021.