Haugen/ Zohar Create Outdoor Fireplace Inspired By Norwegian Turf Huts

OUTDOOR FIREPLACE (also called Fireplace For Children) by architects Haugen/Zohar
Skjærmveien Barnehage, Trondheim

In their own words:
Together with the standard playground facilities we wished to combine an enclosed space for fire, storytelling and playing.

Given a very limited budget, reusing leftover materials (from a nearby construction site) was a starting point that led the design to be based on short wooden pieces. Inspired by the Norwegian turf huts and old log construction, a 5.2 x 4.5 meters wooden construction was built and mounted on a lighted and brushed concrete base.





The structure is made of 80-layered circles. The circles have varied radiuses and relative centre point in relation to each other. Every circle is made out of 28 pieces of naturally impregnated core of pine that are placed with varied spaces to assure chimney effect and natural light.



Oak separators differentiate vertically between the pine pieces to assure airflow allowing easy drying of the pine pieces.



A double curved sliding door was designed for locking the structure.



An authentic turf covered hut in Hardangervidda, Norway (photo by Brian McMorrow):


Sketches, plans, models and CGI renderings for the project:








Completed 2009
Client: Trondheim Municipality
Contractour: Pan Landskap AS
Project Team: Haugen/Zohar
3d consultants: Scenario architecture
Photographers: Grethe Fredriksen & Jason Havneraas

- Fireplace for Children project is included in the top 25 entries for the AR emerging architecture awards 2009. The project is now featured at the special edition of the Architectural Review (December issue) and the Emerging Architecture Exhibition at the RIBA, London

all information and images courtesy of Haugen/Zohar

Watch, Listen & Warm. Poseidon Outdoor Heater With Screen & Speakers.

This is so cool! Er....warm.

Seems like a lot of products are multi-tasking for us these days and here's yet another new, modern hi-tech version of an old utilitarian product. The Poseidon by Chillchaser is an innovation in outdoor heating.



It incorporates a media player, speakers, built in USB port, remote functionality in a weatherproof modern metal design with carbon fiber heating tubes that significantly reduces running costs and cuts carbon dioxide emissions by 50% .


The IPX5 weatherproof media player features a super bright high resolution LCD display that is perfect for playback of all your videos, pictures and music. Audio is also catered for via the inbuilt crystal clear speakers. The built in USB port enables you to run video and audio from your memory sticks. You can also plug in your MP3 players and ipods using the 3.5 input socket.



The PIR economy feature enables the Poseidon patio heater to automatically switch on and off depending on activity near the unit. When enabled, the PIR sensor constantly monitors peoples’ movements up to a distance of 4 meters and if after 4 minutes it does not detect movement it will switch off. Thereafter, if the PIR sensor does detect movement it will automatically switch on at the original settings. This economy function optimises energy usage and minimizes CO2 emissions even further than the 50% already indicated – making Poseidon the most efficient and eco-friendly heater in the world.



Instant heat with two heat settings - 1350W / 2700W. - the elements are replaceable & designed to last 8,000 hours.
Far Infrared Electric heaters offer more focused heat, heating people rather than the air and emit zero CO2 exhaust gases unlike gas patio heaters. Far Infrared carbon fibre heating is used worldwide in hospitals for many problems as it is proven to be the most natural, versatile, and healthy form of heat known to man. FIR heat helps maintain body vitality and increases metabolic function without side effects



Built in rollers and pull handle facilitate easy mobility around patio areas. Poseidon also features a storage compartment for tidy cable management. The magnetic remote enables you to simply attach it to the body of the heater so that you don’t lose it.

It also has a safety master lock so children can't tamper with it and a safety tilt features that automatically shuts of the heater if it's knocked over.


learn more here.

Warm Up To Safretti's New Designer 'Firespaces' For Indoors Or Out

Safretti has contracted various top designers to build up their assortment with new product lines of fireplaces they call 'firespaces'; the Curva, the Prometheus, the Cubico, Riviera and the Gaya. The designers are Jan des Bouvrie, Jort Mercuur, Frans Schrofer and Roderick Vos and the results are HOT.



The Curva:




The Prometheus:




The Cubico:




The Riviera:




The Gaya:




Safretti decorative "firespaces" have a unique design and a high-quality finish. A combination of exclusive design and the warmth of fire. The decorative firespaces are easy to attach to the wall or to place in open spaces. The open fire will be created by using a special liquid (bio-alcohol). A flue is not necessary. Due to the high-quality materials used, these firespaces are suitable for use both inside and outside on the patio or balcony.

Go here to find a place to purchase them.