Isla Song and Hallen Deng, architects in our Hong Kong studio, made their way to Canada as winners of this year's Winnipeg Warming Huts competition. Drawing inspiration from the beaver – a national symbol of Canada renowned for its industriousness and resourcefulness – they conceived 'Pom Pom,' a snug, cosy hut reminiscent of a beaver curling its tail around itself for warmth.

 

'Pom Pom' serves as both a functional winter shelter and a creative space, constructed from sustainable wood and branches. “As we designed the shelter, our goal was to create a space that inspires reflection on nature and sustainability,” Hallen shared. “By using only locally sourced materials, we wanted to emphasise the importance of living in harmony with our environment and foster a sense of community and shared responsibility for our planet,” Isla added.

 

Celebrating its 15th year, the Warming Huts competition, organized by Winnipeg's Arts + Architecture Competition on Ice, continues to captivate the community. Over 140 international submissions were evaluated by a jury, and three winners were crowned.

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Images courtesy of: Isla Song, Hallen Deng, and New Copper Photography