new york based artists and designers, nikolas bentel and lukas bentel, have created the ‘geodesic igloo’ using large slabs of ice. the concept has been developed as an architectural exploration that combines igloo construction and the modernist tradition of geodesic domes. the project employs a very simple construction method that allows triangular sheets of ice to be easily cast and then formed together into a habitable ice structure.
images courtesy of nikolas bentel
building a traditional igloo requires a specific snow type which is easy to pack into hard blocks. however, the snow often becomes either too cold to pack into hard blocks or not deep enough to cut into blocks big enough for an igloo. nikolas and lukas bentel have therefore used individual sheets of ice to construct a cohesive domed structure. in order to create the igloo, only one mold is needed using one equilateral triangle. this equilateral triangle shape is cast 15 times until the full igloo is formed.
the geodesic igloo during the day
the designers aimed to create a building technique that incorporated modern building technology with on hand methods. the building uses a fraction of the material an igloo is made with and is easier to assemble. unlike traditional igloo construction, the geodesic igloo allowed us to build the structure with less material than traditional igloos made of packed snow. because of this, they were able to use thin sheets of ice that stayed completely transparent. in total, the bentel’s structure took around 4 hours to make with materials found in nature. nikolas and lukas aim to use continue to pursue creating different ice casting techniques in order to make larger structures at a faster pace.
casting the ice
lukas holding one of the 15 ice panels used to create the igloo
the first row of ice being placed in order to make the igloo
the top of the igloo, which is very transparent
inside the igloo
nikolas using the igloo during the night and watching the fire to keep warm
the geodesic igloo at night
project info:
project name: ‘the geodesic igloo’
design: nikolas bentel, lukas bentel
designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
edited by: lynne myers | designboom
