Projects / Learning     

Outdoor fireplace for kindergarten in Trondheim

Outdoor play is a central part of a Norwegian childhood. This unusual construction gives room for gatherings and stories around an open fire.

Architect: Haugen/Zohar Arkitekter
Published 05 Dec, 2009
 
The timber structure of the story telling space lights up the dark winter afternoon.

The timber structure of the story telling space lights up the dark winter afternoon.

The construction consists of naturally impregnated pine heartwood, with oak spacers ensuring sufficient ventilation.

From the inside: pine section, oak spacer, sliding door.

 
 
 
Completion: 2009

Address:
Trondheim

Photo:
Jason Havneraas and Grethe Fredriksen

Haugen/Zohar were invited by the Municipality of Trondheim to provide a proposal for an outdoor project for a kindergarten. The architects wanted to combine the usual playground facilities with a room that provided shelter from the weather, for bonfires, storytelling and play. The budget was extremely limited, and the design is based on a structure built of short planks, recycled materials from a building site in the neighbourhood. The inspiration was derived from the old Norwegian turf huts and log cabins, and the little timber construction consists of 80 circles in layers placed on top of each other on an illuminated concrete platform. The circles have different radiuses, and are displaced in relation to each other. Each circle consists of 28 pieces of naturally impregnated pine heartwood, placed at varying distances in order to achieve a chimney effect and natural lighting. Oak spacers create varying vertical distances between the pine planks and ensure air throughflow so that the pine planks are able to dry out. A double-curved sliding door makes it possible to close off and lock the fireplace.