Ateliér Mjölk created a unique ice igloo at the dam in Liberec

Liberec - Unique ice igloos were created at the dam in Liberec by architects from the local studio Mjölk. The project was originally prepared for the world competition Warming Huts 2012 in Winnipeg, Canada. They did not expect that the climatic conditions in Liberec would allow them to create a shelter for ice skaters even at Harcov Dam. However, it is much colder in Liberec now than it was in Canada, so it only took ten hours to build the egg-shaped structure, said one of the authors, Pavel Nalezený, to ČTK today.
The architects of the Mjölk studio were the first Czechs in the history of the prestigious international Warming Huts competition. They conceived the shelters for skaters in Winnipeg, Canada, in a truly original way. They invented a machine that creates ice igloos in the shape of an egg. This is why the machine is called Polar hen. They first tested the project in freezing conditions in Příšovice near Liberec, and then created the first shelter in Canada in January.
However, the weather paradoxically did not favor the icy structure. "Although the average temperature there in January is usually around 17 degrees below zero, this year was the warmest winter they can remember," noted Nalezený. According to him, the frosts were only around five degrees below zero, and during the day, the sun disrupted the icy shell. "We thought it would last until April, but after just a week, the organizers had to break the egg because they feared it would fall on someone’s head," added the architect.
The ice igloo was supposed to serve as a shelter for tired skaters in Canada, but also as artistic objects on the river, where there is nearly a ten-kilometer skating circuit. The young architects from Liberec designed a machine that draws water through a hole in the ice and sprays it onto an inflated giant balloon. "The water then freezes on it and creates an icy shell, and finally the balloon is deflated and an entrance is cut out," explained Nalezený. The egg in Liberec is only small, measuring about 2.5 meters in width and 175 centimeters in height. "Two larger balloons were left in Canada," stated the architect.
The Liberec studio Mjölk was established at the beginning of 2008 by young architects Jan Mach, Pavel Nalezený, and Jan Vondrák. The office gradually expanded by another five people. The foundation of the group's work is an individual approach to clients; their buildings are modern, simple, and witty, but they do not shy away from renovations either. Wood is a favored material. However, they do not only focus on buildings but also enjoy revitalizing public spaces with their projects. Last year, they built a sauna in the middle of the Liberec dam.