The original warming hut. Ice Cube was one of the five inaugural huts that birthed the internationally recognized Warming Huts: An Arts + Architecture Competition on Ice. Ten years later, the open international competition has accepted more than 8,000 entries from over 50 countries resulting in 45 built projects enjoyed by more than 3 million visitors to the Red River Mutual Trail at the Forks. Invited hut creators over the years include Antoine Predock, Frank Gehry, Etienne Gaboury, Anish Kapoor, Tanya Tagaq and Guy Maddin.
Ice Cube alludes to historic voyageur and indigenous constructions along the river through the use of cedar. The hut is site specific, formed by its position on the river near the Manitoba Legislative Building combining the square forms of the planters and triangular marker forms of the sun dial in the shadow of the Louis Riel sculpture to create an angled cube. A cedar framework is clad with cedar slats at regular intervals, with window boxes inserted to frame specific views of the river trail and the legislative building. The interior is clad with translucent coroplast panels, allowing the cube to be a glowing beacon at night. A roof top solar panel provides energy for the interior lights. Ice Cube was a collaboration with photographer Merri-Lou Paterson of Soul Seeker Images, Dan Hunnie, Guenter Schaub and Gary Hiebert from Tower Engineering, Dale Paterson and Bruce Froebe.
Kevin was a member of the brain trust that in 2009 conceived of the idea for the small warming huts originally set up along the Guinness World Record holding river trail to be more than utilitarian shacks. They took the idea to Paul Jordan, then COO of the Forks North Partnership and the annual event was born. Sputnik Architecture principal Peter Hargraves with Jonathon Pylypchuk and 5468796 Architecture with Ewa Tarsia were the other local original warming hut creators along with Kevin’s former professor from Dalhousie University, Richard Kroeker and Antione Predock, designer of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. This group of architects and designers has remained at the core of the jury for the international design competition for the past decade, each year enjoying good food, good drink, and good company after a long day of deliberations.
Ice Cube photographs are courtesy of Merri-Lou Paterson.
“Kevin’s ‘Warming Hut’ was the very first warming hut; it was the archetypal hut that every other hut for the next ten years was based on. Every entry is judged on the mash-up of great design, great art and environmental responsibility. The Ice Cube represented all of that.
For example, when the idea of a Warming Hut competition on the Rivertrail first came up, his warming hut design was the image we used to describe the program. It had everything we were looking for with the added luxury that it was actually warm. The collaboration with Merri-Lou Patterson (the artist), the ‘green’ aspects of the hut and the ease by which it could be transported and used was everything we were looking for.
Ice Cube came to an unfortunate end when it was set on fire one cold winters night, but the resulting insurance claim seeded the Warming Hut competition for the next year when funding for the competition was in peril. The Ice Cube’s existence may have been brief but its legacy will always live on.”
Paul Jordan, CEO - The Forks North Portage Partnership
Publications
‘Warm up to Winter’, Ian Chodikoff, Canadian Architect, March 2010.
‘Winnipeg Warmth: Warming Huts, Winnipeg, Manitoba’, Lawrence Bird, Canadian Architect, January 2017.