Fire Installation

Ann Arbor, MI, United States

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Fire Installation

Ann Arbor, MI, United States

Firm

PLY Architecture

Type

Government + Health ›

YEAR

2008

The project is created in response to a university initiative to have multidisciplinary teams engage issues of the environment through art driven inquiry. Our team was composed of an artist, architect, and aerospace engineer tasks to explore the element of Fire. Fire is unique among the four elements in that it is not necessary for life. It is often associated with progress and technology as most modern conveniences, materials, and processes are in some way tied back to fire. Indeed it could be argued that our use of fire and the subsequent technologies that result from this are the defining characteristics of our species. Fire is also unique among the elements because of its perceived volatility, often considered chaotic and uncontrollable in nature. Beyond its dynamic behavior, it exudes a wide range of phenomenal qualities including color, sound, heat, direction, and texture. All of which are predictable based on the laws of thermodynamics.