Fire without flamesGRADUATION PROJECT | INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE | 2016
My aim is to spark the fire within a person — to warm up his mind — by bringing in the sensory and atmospheric qualities of fire. The project is a design proposal for Viðborð's abandoned farm house in rural Iceland. The design introduces new fire related elements to the deserted house ruins, transforming its presence and role from a mistreated pile of bones into an inviting and lively gathering place. The house would function as a base-camp for hikers, offering shelter from the natural elements around. |
This house is a representation of fire's personality. Its rooms demonstrate four different characteristics that all come together with the copper window shutters' warm light reflections. The first room is a circular gathering area piled up from lava stones and softened with sheep skins. The ceiling has a hay tapestry hanging down with long straws that catch the movement of flames during windy weather. The complete circle appears as an invitation to the ground when mid-day sun enters through the funnel above. The next room also has a small opening on the ceiling that lets in rain water filling the copper basin underneath. This room gathers water for its visitors and presents fire's contrasting character. The house always holds in the both extremes; fire next to water -- safety and danger. The last room on the ground floor next to the staircase is the smallest and could be used as a storage space. Its interior surfaces have been burnt, making it at first sight threatening and vicious. This room gives a reminder of the violent and demolishing character of fire that on the other hand has a cleansing effect. The open sky room on the second floor is indicated to be the over-night shelter. The felt rugs on the ground softening the sleep are treated with tar making them water resistant. This space demonstrates the embracing and protecting side of fire. Surrounded by the smoky smell of tar and lying down higher above the ground connects with primitive memories; sleeping on top of the fireplace heart or around a campfire underneath the stars. |
drawings
the exhibition elements
The project was exhibited during the graduation festival in the Royal academy of Art, The Hague. The exhibition presentation's intention was to give a tasting of the Fire Without Flames experience — by bringing in four 1:1 samples of the fire related elements.
1. A circle of crushed lava stone that reveals the touch of fire on materials. This stone circle was placed in the middle of the room to indicate a circular flow and a center point to the space. 2. The 2 meters long copper plate next to the window showed in reality the warm and lively light reflections inside the exhibition space. 3. A piece of the hay tapestry hanging on top of the entrance intrigued visitors to step in and reach out for the hanging straws. 4. The stripe of felt hanging down had been metal-brushed to give it a more interesting scattered structure and the other side had been coated with wood tar that brought in the overwhelming smell of fire. Thanks to... Kimmo Virtanen (http://vanhavirta.fi/) Ástríður Magnúsdóttir (http://www.glamakim.is/) Gijs Baks (http://space-encounters.eu/) Gert Anninga (http://www.nineoaks.eu/) |