Fireplace
Product + Space
Concept + Strategy
A fire that brings people together.The idea grew out of a wish for a place that combines contemplation and community. With the art installation Fireplace, Schenkhaus Zurich gained a spot where people meet, share and feel at home. At its heart is the transformation of fire into a multisensory experience. By day, the installation is a place to sit; by night, a digital fire lights up and turns the space into somewhere warm and welcoming.
Services
Concept, Product Design, Programming
Client
For Schenkhaus, the youth culture project of the Reformed Church of the City of Zurich, we developed the art installation “Fireplace”. Soda Studios’ involvement covered:
- Ideation and concept
- Community involvement through design thinking and workshops
- Support in securing funding
- Design, development, programming and build
- Installation, safety testing and training
Concept
Fire has always stood for togetherness – and Fireplace gives it a fresh twist. A round wooden body hides light, sound and fog elements that recreate the glow of embers and flames.
Lift the lid and the bench turns into a digital fire, and thanks to movable LED modules it can be reshaped again and again.
Making it happen
Designers, electronics engineers and carpenters pooled their expertise in the Soda Studios workshop. The result is a true collaboration, carried by many hands and ideas at every stage. From concept to code, it was developed, refined and tested until it had that final finesse. Training and mood videos make sure the magic can be passed on for years to come.
The first heartbeat
Using tools like the Tektronix TDS 2004C, we measured, tested and fine-tuned the electronic signals so the installation would run reliably.
Pull up a seat by the fire
You’ll find Fireplace at Schenkhaus every Wednesday. Drop by, take a seat and let it work its magic.
