Every year in Manitoba, there is an art and architecture competition on ice which takes proposals to create "warming huts" for the world's longest naturally frozen skating trail, The River Trail in Winnipeg.  This year's winners from the competition were built in January along the trail (submissions started in September), and although they have all been removed with the skating season closed, I thought I'd show you some of the amazing structures that were built. Thanks to our friend Alex for the heads up!

Rope Pavilion
Kevin Erickson and Allison Warren, New York, NY

Through the combination of simple materials, ROPE pavilion created a highly articulated form and space while nestling itself into the Assiniboine Credit Union River Trail’s landscape. Its relationship of skin, made from manila rope, and structure, crafted out of birch frame, merge to form a warming hut whose dense shell blocks winter winds while still being perforated for light and views. 


Wind Catcher
Tina Soli and Luca Roncoroni, Norway

Wind Catcher is a simple (furniture-like) structure, a “hole in the wall”. The goal is to create a playful architecture, an object that stimulates curiosity, desire to interact and to discover. At the same time the weather, in particular the wind plays an active role with the architecture and to communicate with the public. 



Five-Hole
Gehry Partners, Los Angeles, CA

The concept for the Gehry Partners warming hut is an abstracted igloo comprised from chiseled blocks of ice, stacked and composed in a sculpturally casual way. The interior space, intended to contrast the exterior, provides a sense of warmth through the use of a Douglas Fir timber structure, timber benches as well as a central fire pit.