Warm--and wacky--fireplace shelter
While visiting one of my favorite websites, tinyhousedesign.com, I came across this whimsical and wacky-looking outbuilding, which looks somewhat like a Hershey's Kiss with its top blown off
This oddly shaped structure was built in a school yard in Trondheim, Norway. Designed by Haugen/Zohar Arkitekter, it serves as both a fireplace shelter and playhouse for the kids.
(I guess the Norwegians are a bit more trusting of their educators and kids than we are here in the U.S. I can't imagine any American school allowing kids to romp around an open fire during recess.)
While the structure's eye-catching design is certainly noteworthy, its construction is just as interesting.
When I first saw this conical-shaped building, I thought it was made of ceramic tiles or perhaps thin fire bricks. Wrong. It's actually made entirely out of wood salvaged from a nearby construction site.
The wood pieces were milled to a specific shape, and then stacked in 80 increasingly smaller circular layers. Each circle is comprised of 28 wood pieces.
Spaces between the wood layers allow air to enter the structure where it fuels the fire. Smoke and fumes exit through the large hole at the top.
Must be a very popular place for the kids, especially during Norway's long winters when a roaring fire warms the interior.
(4) Comments
Now this is interesting! But I think instead of an open fire, I would install one of those cute little fire pits (big jug looking thing with a hole in the side for the fire that you can buy at the store) in it. Lots of options here....
Good idea, Bobbie. I believe the fire pit you're thinking of is a chiminea, which is sometimes called a chimera. Although by definition, a chimera is a Greek mythological female fire-breathing monster with the head of a lion, body of a goat and serpent's tail. (I think I dated her once.) Anyway, thanks for writing and good luck!--JT
I believe you mean a chiminea
I should have mentioned what amazing show-offs male wood pigeons are: they indulge in a spectacular swoop-and-glide display flight, as you'll know well if one has ever swoopeed right down in front of your car. fireplaces