The Canadian architectural studio has built poetic temporary shelters recalling the dolmens of Stonehenge.
The project by Patkau Architects of Canada stands out lightly against the white ice. These strange conical volumes recalling the dolmens of Stonehenge are temporary shelters.They offer relief and shelter for skaters taken by surprise by Winnipeg?s strong winds. Each element is made of curved plywood, forming a little shelter for a handful of guests. The interior is spartan: a wooden floor and a few seats.
Each volume seems to wrap itself around its visitors to offer them a sense of protection and warmth, though their apparently monolithic nature contrasts with the choice of a lightweight material.
The elements make up an organic whole that seems to float on the surface of the frozen river. They bend and move gently in the wind, revealing their fragile nature in contrast with the power and inevitability of natural phenomena.
(Agnese Bifulco)
Design: Patkau Architects (Tyler Brown, Matthew Bunza, James Eidse, John Patkau, Patricia Patkau, Thomas Schroeder, Luke Stern, Peter Suter)
Location: Winnipeg, Canada
Photographs: James Dow
