Man & Christmas Elf Explored In 14 Snowglobes By Various Architects

above: Magic Garden, one of fourteen snowdomes that exlpore the Nisse Landscape

This year DAC, the Dansk Architectural Center, invited architect firms Jaja, Primus and Masu to create new interpretations of the Christmas landscape in the form of snowglobes or snow domes, with modern pixies or elves (Nisse).



The project is a critical interpretation of the planning perspectives on the relationship between the elf, Santa Claus, the countryside and an investigation of the modern Nisses' influence on urban form and structural contexts, like the DAC to focus on a fundamental paradox in relation to the current pixie landscape.



On the one hand, continued development of 'modern city', with the expansion of modern nissehabitater, on the other hand, maintained the notion of 'the traditional pixie landscape' in the use of simple dichotomies 'city-country' and 'center-periphery' as understanding terms basis of planning. In practice this seems logical contradiction, however, mask or ignore. With respect to this masking plays the understanding of 'pixie landscape' as natural in contrast to the 'city' as a cultural importance.

This pixie landscape urban discourse seeks to establish the basis for a new dialectical synthesis between urban and pixie landscape planning, where pixie landscape refers to a common framework for Christmas in the urban and rural context. Based on this alternative understanding of pixie landscape, like the DAC to consider the possibility of anchoring the goblin and his little helpers in relation to the future planning of the urban-rural pixie landscape.



How does the Nisse live amongst us today? That was the fundamental question at this year's x-mas workshop at DAC. We chose to explore this seasonal topic through a variety of architectural and programmatic compositions, represented in these fourteen snow globes.

Xmas Bar:

Roof Garden:

Harbor Bath:

Xmas Rock:

Track and Bridge:

Xmas Traffic:

Stair House:

Shopping Ramp:

Bike Park:

Mix Doubles:

Double Facade:

Housing Bridge:

Stair House:

and Magic Garden shown at the top of this post.

via JAJA on NOTCOT
images courtesy of JAJA, information and text courtesy of DAC

Rasmus Fenhann: A Contemporary Craftsman

In my usual scouring of the web, I came across a young and very talented craftsman named Rasmus Fenhann. His work is beautiful and I wanted to share it with you.

He's been the recipient of many danish design awards and has had his work commissioned for several projects and is a gifted antiques restorer as well. He also does custom work.


above: Rasmus in his workshop.


above: Some of his tools in his workshop.

Theatre chair
Graduation design project by Rasmus Fenhann
laminated Maple veneer, Stainless steel, H:850 W:600 D:600


This chair is made for the new National Theatre that is going to be located near the harbour in central Copenhagen.

Rasmus says "I wanted to make a chair that looks light in the space as an individual element. The chair is saving space so that the audience can come closer to the actors. It is possible to make the chair with upholstery inside for concert hall acoustics."





He makes other beautiful wood furniture products and custom commissions as well. The custom pear wood Architect's Portfolio he made for his sister way back in 1997 is stunning.





His hiKARI collection (2005) of lamps crafted of Oregon pine are an elegant homage to japanese lamp design:





Lamps in Oregon pine:

The minimalist design comes from geometry. Rasmus Fenhann is using the old polyhedral shapes in a new way. The 6 lamps are made by equilateral polygons, which make the lamps simple, poetic and functional: the light is allowed to spread to all sides, and the handmade paper gives a soft and pleasant light.




Contact info:
Rasmus Fenhann
Classensgade 65, 1 th. -3
DK-2100 København Ø

Workshop address:
Mariendalsvej 25b, Baghuset
2000 Frederiksberg
Tel. +45 35 38 81 24
Mobile: +45 26 54 06 04

E-mail: rasmus@fenhann.com