Fire Walls “I like to use fireplaces as objects for defining space,” says Sam Van Dam, AIA, on the topic of fireplaces as room dividers. In addition to offering varied views for blaze gazing, locating a fireplace in a central space conserves energy because the heat radiates into the house. Residential architects and designers also choose this type of placement to avoid blocking exterior vistas or natural light. Architect Richard Burt appreciates the intimacy a fireplace adds to gathering spots, but also finds an advantage in leaving the space around it open so conversations can be had between rooms. The fiery divides featured here offer visually interesting separation through multipurpose surrounds.
Steel Beauty Steel framing with exposed fasteners transforms this compact woodstove into a functioning sculpture that separates the living and dining spaces of this coastal Maine home. Welded, sanded, and waxed steel components reach 7 feet across and nearly 5 feet tall to give the central woodstove “more presence,” explains architect Bruce Norelius. “We treated it like an object in space,” he adds. “It’s kind of an unrefined folly within an elegant house.” An uninsulated flue gives off additional heat and remains an honest piece of this straightforward design. Two steel plates spaced ½ inch apart protect diners from accidentally burning themselves on the back of the stove. The architect treated the stove surround like a piece of furniture by raising it off the floor. “It was important to set it up on legs,” he says. “They give it air and space so it doesn’t look too heavy.” Builder: Atlantic Builders, Surry, Maine; Architect: Elliott, Elliott & Norelius, Blue Hill, Maine; Metalwork: Morse Welding, Sedgwick, Maine; Photographer: Brian Vanden Brink.
Hot Stripes This elevated fireplace acts as an “internal focal point” for the living room and kitchen while screening the owner’s studio just off the stair landing. Architect Sam Van Dam often uses fireplaces as a foil for stairs. “I like walking down and seeing the top of the fire-box,” he says. Two chrome-plated flues (one for the boiler) extend to the double-height ceiling and reflect rays from a peaked skylight. The owner found tile with an iridescent copper stripe that Van Dam speced for the surround giving it strong vertical movement that works well with the room’s tall dimensions. Van Dam opted to leave the manufactured firebox as is. “The fireplace is an assembly of found objects,” he says, “and the manufactured face is a piece of that collage.” Builder: John Dube, Stratton, Maine; Architect: Van Dam Architecture and Design, Portland, Maine; Photographer: Brian Vanden Brink.
Block Party Richard Burt designed a house for his family that is simple and open. “Most of the south and west facades are floor-to-ceiling glass,” says the architect, “but I also wanted to create cozy gathering spaces.” That’s where a manufactured fireplace surrounded by concrete block, black slate, and maple comes into play. Airy living and dining areas occupy the 24-foot width of the footprint, but only about 30 feet of length, so Burt didn’t want to consume a lot of floor space with a masonry fireplace. A basic metal manufactured firebox did the trick. “I brought the slate tight to the door opening to minimize exposed metal,” he says. Another slab of slate tops the plant stand while clear maple connects the other side to a wall of built-ins. Asymmetrical heights were chosen (based on the coursing of concrete blocks) to fit the home’s interior proportions. Blocks and mortar are tinted to lighten the tone. A painted flue lets it fade into the background. Builder/Architect: Richard Burt Architects, Damariscotta, Maine; Masonry: Steve Welton Masonry, Pittson, Maine; Woodwork: Jack Lichtenwalner, San Francisco; Photographer: Brain Vanden Brink.
Arranged Flame The homeowner asked architect Gitta Robinson to design a house that will fluctuate with future lifestyle changes. Robinson responded by packing “a lot of detailing in this central living court because it serves a lot of different functions.” The fireplace surround multitasks the most. A truncated wall screens the library without cutting it off from other public areas. Huge pocket panels tucked behind the fireplace will be called into action for an eventual transformation from library to ground-floor master suite. A hearth-to-ceiling side niche keeps a column of wood handy. Recessed maple cabinets house TV and stereo solving the “usual conflict of whether the fireplace or TV is going to be the focal point,” says Robinson. Built-in glass doors are a fireplace must for the architect, who feels it’s the environmentally correct choice. A cantilevered, poured-in-place concrete hearth links the pieces in a strong horizontal flourish. Builder: Meadow Mountain Construction, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass.; Architect: Robinson + Grisaru, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Cabinetmaker: Troy Cabinet Manufacturing, Manchester-by-the-Sea; Photographer: Brian Vanden Brink.
