Ice Fishing Hut Melts When the Weather Warms
Think: cast-in-place versus prefab concrete. Part fishing shack, part igloo, part minimalist chalet, this portable part-time dwelling uses blocks of ice that are poured on the spot rather than painstakingly cut, drug and assembled on site.
Wire mesh reinforces these wall-and-window elements, which can serve as a trellis for greenery during summer months of disuse (or alternative open-air uses).
“Unavailability” from studio Gartnerfuglen can be assembled in minutes, or less, by a pair of people – easy to deploy and also to store (since the heaviest part – the thick walls – simply melt away).
More info on this ephemeral ice cabin from the designers:
“Noun 1. Unavailability – the quality of not being available when needed. As the smartphone is slowly taking over society, more and more people treasure the feeling when their battery runs out. This small shelter for unavailability follows the seasons as it is built with and by nature. The shelter’s construction is foldable for easy relocation and storage. It is effortlessly put up anywhere by one (or two small) persons in 30 seconds.”
“In winter its walls are filled with panels of ice, cast in snow. The ice panels function as a first skin against the harsh winter winds, creating a pocket of heated air and tranquillity, as the cold light of the setting sun is diffused through the frozen water. Used as an ice fishing shanty, lake water can be used to form the walls. Lit inside with a candle, the shelter will light up like a lantern. When the weather gets warmer the bare chicken wire walls will serve as support for climbing plants, and form a green transportable gazebo providing fresh cool air for its occupant. Edible climbers like sweet peas, tomatoes and cucumbers will thrive and add to your evening salad.”
Photos by Astrid Rohde Wang and Olav Lunde Arneberg.