A creative getaway: this center, located at Halibut Cove just a short boat ride away from Homer, provides guests a relaxing atmosphere with artistic flair.

• Author: Jackinsky, McKibben
• Position: Alaska Center for Creative Renewal

A visit to the Alaska Center for Creative Renewal begins the moment the boat leaves Homer Harbor and starts the short 20-minute crossing of Kachemak Bay to Halibut Cove. With every breath of fresh, salty air, every dip of seabird wing, every gentle roll of the bay's tidally stirred water, the center's peaceful atmosphere draws nearer, leaving far behind the frantic, schedule-driven pace of workday routines.

Owned by Jim and Jan Thurston, formerly of Anchorage, the center opened in February 2004. Situated on a six-acre peninsula that extends into the cove's peaceful water, the center overlooks the cove, Ismailof Island and the bay beyond. Behind the center, the Kenai Mountains rise to unnamed, jagged, snow-capped peaks, before their southern slopes descend to the Gulf of Alaska.

A short distance from the private boat dock, the center's main doors open, welcoming guests to an interior world in keeping with the natural setting, and equally steeped in peace and solitude. Described by Jim as three 30-foot-by-30-foot diagonally mated squares that took nearly two years to construct, the center rises and falls with the topography, offering space well suited for conferences, workshops and retreats.

"The magical thing about this space is that whether there are nine or 30 people, it seems to conform for whomever is here," Jan said. "It's not too big and it's not too small."

Passing through the beautifully crafted copper and glass doors, guests enter a world where the outdoors and indoors are artfully joined. A bridge gently arches over a stone riverbed, connecting the entryway with the main room. The wooden floor in the main room is made from reclaimed fir planking that once decked a barge in Homer. Windows offer sweeping two story views of the mountains beyond. Sliding glass doors open to wraparound decks constructed with Trex, a material made from the combination of re claimed wood and plastic, and bordered by colorful flower boxes.

INDOOR WATERFALL

To the left of the main room, stairs, bordered by a softly gurgling waterfall, rise to an area that was created with an eye toward workshop settings. The Thurstons carefully selected this room's furniture for its comfort, as well as its ability to be easily and quickly rearranged as needed. A screen drops down from the ceiling, ready to display PowerPoint, slide or video presentations. Windows open to bring in the fresh sea air. Overhead lighting can be directed as required. And for less formal settings...