At first glance it seems that ice as building material is
only for Northern countries. But the drama of the temporality is shown
to its full advantage in warmer climates.
Melting ice implies a new beginning, which is why Anders Wilhelmson Architects
and Designers designed an exhibit stand of ice for the creations of SAAB.
Many of the visitors of the Auto Motor Show '98 in Geneva couldn't resist
the temptation to touch the living material. The melting ice lump of 3
by 12 metres was part of an elegantly designed glass construction, which
showed the transparent character of the ice to its full advantage.
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But ice is perishable even in the cold North of Sweden.
Every year a hotel, a chapel and exhibition spaces melt away in the Jukkajarvian
sun.
There are specialised architects and engineering firms that are exclusively
working on ice- and snow constructions. The Finnish architect Kino Kuismanen
and engineer Seppo Makinen for example are the founders of Snowhow Ltd.
They strive for designs of snow and ice that optimally use of the special
qualities of the perishable building material.
Another pioneer in the area of modern snow building is the architect Kako
Nordstrom. He has designed a patented system in which spans of 10m wide
can be made. Snow is sprayed in layers on moulds. After hardening the
mould is slid further like a tunnel shuttering, so long sheds can be built.
The modern snow domes are, in contrast to Igloos, more like tent constructions.
The Eskimo's stack blocks of ice to small domes. The modern snow builders
make thick blankets of snow that are held high with tent poles of ice.
These tent poles are built from slices of ice that are cut from the river.
While for Eskimos they are essential to survive, ice- and snow constructions
in countries such as Sweden, Finland and Japan are an important tourist
attraction. But it is cold in these ice palaces. While the Eskimos could
'heat' their homes to a temperature of approximately 15 degrees by body
heat and the heat of the oil lamps, the modern snow buildings are cold
cells in which you can only comfortably stay with modern ski clothing.
jv