Modern design is not only experimenting with shapes, colors and sizes, but also offers a new philosophy of perception of the home: fireplaces are no longer just interior details and claim to be independent art objects

Passing the gallery

Materials prepared: Yevhen Shuer

Magazine: H (76) 2003

Red-hotness is not necessarily an indicator of conflict - it can also contribute to appeasement. True connoisseurs of comfort testify: nothing soothes the soul, as pastime at the fireplace. It is important not to get lost in front of the variety of possible options, choosing a suitable object for relaxation. It can be a classic English fireplace with handmade cast iron, and French in Provence style, and a Finnish fireplace-stove with extraordinary abilities, and an ultramodern model of weapon steel and refractory glass, which only remotely resembles the original sourceCave History Like thousands of years ago, fire mysteriously affects a person - it attracts and fascinates. And in the "dragon cave" entourage, he undoubtedly awakens the imagination. Looking at him, it is easy to go back mentally to prehistoric times and imagine yourself in the place of the primeval ancestor, basking in the hearth. Or to end up in a fairytale castle with dragons, wizards and beautiful princesses ... This kind of "cultural and historical context" is very much on fire.Country style The fireplace gives charm to any dwelling, and in a country house the presence of a hearth seems to be taken for granted. There, having forgotten about the city bustle and tuned in to the philosophical mood, you can sit quietly by the fireplace and enjoy the contemplation of the fire. And for this it is not necessary to wait for the onset of darkness. After all, the flame looks beautiful and in bright daylight - in the company of sun glare. Probably it was not by chance that the ancients considered fire to be the earthly incarnation of the sun.Architects Alyona Belyakova and Gulya Akhmetshina, architectural bureau VIP House:"For most projects, we ourselves invent fireplaces. This case is rather an exception. Our customer wanted the fireplace to ... bake bread. We chose a model from the Finnish company Tulikivi, because it has a special stove. This fireplace can also heat the room very much. In winter, it can be used as a stove, and in summer - as an ordinary fireplace. The task was to fit it into the interior. It turned out that the fireplace became a necessary accent.The stone stands out from the overall beige-brown gamut. "English standard The conservatism of the British and their reverent attitude to traditions are also manifested in the design of fireplaces. As a rule, classic English fireplaces have shallow (unlike French) open fireboxes cast from cast iron according to old technologies that were used during the time of Queen Victoria. Their decor also remains unchanged: carved wooden portals, handmade iron castings, and ceramic panels. Such fireplaces to a greater degree warm the soul, and not the room, which in modern conditions is perhaps more relevant.Starting point The fireplace perfectly succeeds in the role of not only the compositional center organizing space around itself. It can also become an emotional center - a bright and attractive detail that will make the entire interior memorable. Indeed, in the hands of modern designers and architects, even such a seemingly traditional thing as a fireplace takes on the most unexpected forms.Architect Ulvis Abikis, architectural and restoration workshop Laukudzive, Riga:"The open space of the first floor is divided into several zones: a living room, a dining room, and so on. The fireplace visually unites these zones. And on the second and third floors the chimney forms a rod on which a spiral staircase is strung. By the way, this technique helps to save a significant portion of space Thus, the fireplace here is also a constructive element, the central axis of the whole building. "Architect Kirill Kozlov, architectural group "Arka", St. Petersburg:"In the interior of the Sovereign restaurant, we created the atmosphere of the Peter epoch. The idea arose to decorate the fireplace in the form of an old globe. The ball itself was made of copper, and the reliefs on its surface were made of brass aged under bronze. These reliefs repeat maps of the time. And all The inscriptions quote Peter's sayings. It is interesting that the fireplace is set on a stone from which water flows. This symbolizes the unity of all the elements - fire, air, earth and water. "Hot-art Modern design is not only experimenting with shapes, colors and sizes, but also offers a new philosophy of perception of the home: fireplaces are no longer just interior details and claim to be independent art objects. Одни могут представлять собой живописные панно или архитектурные конструкции, другие - "притворяться" стеной или картиной в раме.