Peder Norby chases a dream
Peder Norby, who was born in San Diego in 1962, has never
been your average Joe.
At age 10, he traveled to Denmark. Alone.
At 18, he flew the nest, at 19, he moved to Carlsbad, and at age 20, he started a business that has become a mainstay in our village ---- the Carlsbad Danish Bakery, which is still being run by his former wife, Lone Jensen.
And, over the years, he was right there fighting to
better his community. To bring Legoland to Carlsbad and to get the Carlsbad
Convention & Visitors Bureau and the nonprofit group, Kids Are Worth a Million,
off and running. Eight years ago, when Encinitas was in turmoil, he was
approached to help revitalize that city's downtown area. Today, as executive
director of the Downtown Encinitas MainStreet Association, Peder should be
taking deep bows for what he has done to turn that area into a thriving and
profitable one. One that has had for the past four years a $29 million increase
in sales.
Although Peder admits that he marches to the beat of a different drummer, he is
a team player, a part of an orchestra that knows how to get the melody just
right.
Now, his latest venture ---- or I should say, his latest challenge ---- which
started off in November as a "me project," has turned into a family one.
He and his bride of three months, Julie, along with their three children
(Bettina and Jamie, both 18, and Jake, 12) are chasing his dream together.
They are building their home, Herons House.
Now, this isn't your typical home. Forget the track house. That wouldn't be any
fun for Peder, who last November bought a piece of property in an established
area. Almost a half an acre with a 30-year-old house that was in disrepair. But,
the view overlooking Agua Hedionda Lagoon was fantastic.
What he is doing is applying the knowledge that he has gained over the years
about preservation, re-use and conservation, along with the needs and wants of
his family.
A house that is a unique expression of each of them.
Peder and Julie believe that a home is a partnership between the occupants, the
built environment and the natural environment and that the house will work with
and compliment the land on which it rests ---- rather than ignore, obscure or
obliterate the land.
They are going to be generating 100 percent of their electrical needs with a
special solar system.
The house will be passively cooled with no need for air conditioning.
There will be a tankless water heater that will reduce water use and the cost of
heating water by 30 percent.
Walls will be 6 inches thick and built with natural materials, where possible,
and a high recycled content.
There won't be a lawn, but rather native and naturalized drought-tolerant
landscaping, as well as 145 tons of hand-selected real rock boulders. And, there
will be a pond, waterfall, and a small amphitheatre.
They are re-using a portion of the house that was on the property, and adding an
additional 3,300 square feet. It will have a two-room wine cellar (50 percent
will be subterranean), a wine production area and a 200-vine vineyard.
And, because Peder and Julie want their multiple-story home to be accessible to
all their friends and family (some have mobility issues), they will be
installing an elevator.
One of the neatest parts of this creative and imaginative project is that family
and friends worldwide can track the progress. And, so can all of you.
It's magic. Check out www.heronshouse.com.