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 Back in 1942, Danish inventor Villum Kann Rasmussen patented his first “roof window,” a skylight designed to efficiently let natural light and fresh air into dark, sloped attic spaces. He named his company VELUX, from “ventilation” and “lux,” the Latin word for light. Now, the longtime company specializing in skylights and related products such as “sun tunnels” has opened its first North American experience center in downtown Mountain View.
The new center, located at 312 Castro St., features rooms designed to resemble different living spaces, along with displays about the purported benefits of adding more natural light and ventilation to the home, such as improved sleep, mood and indoor air quality, according to a press release from the company. Visitors can walk through the spaces and see the products in use.
The approximately 6,000-square-foot space – formerly Tap Plastics – was conceptually designed by Danish design firm OEO Studio, with Bay Area firm DERN Architecture + Development as the architect and San Jose’s Hillhouse Construction Company managing construction.
Stephan Moyon, the president of VELUX North America, said California is one of the company’s largest markets, so it made sense to choose a Bay Area locale for its first U.S. experience center.
“We think that the California climate is just ideal for leveraging skylights in homes, and the housing stock is very conducive. The climate is very conducive, the temperatures are very conducive,” he said.
“We also intend to make this facility an appealing place for the architectural community and the designer community,” he said, noting that the Silicon Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Architects has already held a recent meeting on site.
The company also hopes to make the space available to local groups for uses such as yoga classes and special events.
“We want it to be a community place. We want people to experience what skylights can offer in a real-life setting, even though this is not at home,” Moyon said. “The light and fresh air apply to the home environment as they do to businesses and more industrial-type facilities here.”
While the front of the building serves as a showroom for consumers, the facility also doubles as a training center – Pro Partner Academy – where local professionals can be educated about the products and how to install them. It also serves as a hub for customers to be connected with installers and other pros.
The center opened Aug. 7 and held an open house Sept. 18, featuring live music from Sam Johnson and his band, giveaways and guest designers Shavonda Gardner of SG Style and Renovation Husbands (Stephen and Dave St. Russell).
Moyon said he’s particularly delighted with the new center’s location along Castro Street, where pedestrians can easily stop to see what’s inside.
“It is an experiment, because we’ve never done it before. We’ve never had a showroom like this, an experience center like this, that’s really designed for consumers to come in,” he said. “But we’re optimistic that we can keep this place very busy, and the local traffic’s been excellent.”
VELUX Experience Center, 312 Castro St., Mountain View; open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays; veluxusa.com/experience-center.
