The competition was for a movable visitors’ hut on a frozen river in Winnipeg. Our entry, The Lantern, is a biomimetic tribute to the winter cherry, nature’s own architectural wonder.
Tensile bamboo rods frame a circular room, which is then tented over in polyester netting. When sprayed with water in the subzero air, the net quickly freezes into a shell of ice. Our modern take on an igloo, the ice blocks the wind to keep the interior comfortable.
We enhanced the comfort with an upholstered ring of seating covered in thick, warm fleece. Set on skids for easy transport, the round floor of the hut hovers just above the snow and ice.
Lastly, a glowing red globe hangs from the pointed ceiling like a winter cherry seed. The red battery-powered LED lights up the interior and turns the hut into a glowing lantern at night.
