The Herald

Home & Building Supplement June 1997

 One architect’s infatuation with fireplaces : Fireplaces as an architectural design element

 by Ron Seeto B.Arch(Hons) ANZIA

 I love fireplaces.  After a period of homeowners blocking up, removing or not wanting them in their new homes, its wonderful to see fireplaces enjoying a revival.   

Seizing this opportunity I revel in treating fireplaces as both interior and exterior design elements.   

A wide choice of proprietary units which can be purchased, then built to the required design and style, have made this easy. 

The new proprietary units are efficient and do not rely on an experienced mason to ensure the fireplace won’t smoke.  Units available today include wood burning fire boxes either in metal or precast concrete, fake flame gas fire units which look like the real thing and a variety of wood burning stoves. 

If you are considering a fireplace, think about...  Fireplaces as a focal point

When its cold, people generally like to sit around a cosy fire - for warmth as well as atmosphere.  It doesn’t have to be in the centre of a wall - it could be a corner.

Positioning of the fire should be determined by your intended seating and furniture arrangements. 

Design considerations

When designing the fireplace it is important to complement the style, character and period of the room that the fire is in. 

The mantel or fire surround - Tiled, plastered or timber.  Hard edged minimal or more sculptured and sensuous. 

The hearth - Raised to provide a seat or flush with the floor.  The NZ Building Code requires a depth of 380mm. 

The mantelpiece -  Traditionally a shelf in timber or marble.  A more rustic look being achieved using a large chunk of railway sleeper or a more minimalist hard edged approach where the mantelpiece is dispensed with altogether with the fire being a simple hole in the wall. 

The proportion and height for a mantelpiece should relate to the size of the fire. 

The wood box - You are not limited to a cane basket or a coal bucket.  Designed as an alcove stacked full of firewood it is both functional and visual.  

The wall above the fire - Traditionally, this space is taken up with either a painting or a mirror.  However, tradition can be abandoned by the use of a either a large landscape window or a series of slot windows providing an ever changing vista beyond. 

Exterior features - The fireplace can project beyond the exterior face of the building in various ways to make it a feature.  Additionally, the placement of the chimney and its shape can add a unique character to your home. 

Other excuses for a fireplace

Apart from toasting marshmallows on them, which my children love to do, a fireplace can act as a space or room divider, eg between a dining and sitting space.  Back to back fireplaces sharing the same chimney shaft are sometimes used for this purpose.  

An outdoor fire can act as a brazier to keep away the damp on summer evenings al fresco.   Designed in conjunction with a barbecue it becomes a focal point in an outdoor room setting. 

Fireplaces can be designed as inglenooks where the fire is recessed into an alcove with seats on either side or maybe a sitting well. 

Finally, you are not restricted to just one fireplace in a house - Currently I am designing a home with 4 fireplaces : sitting room, family room, master bedroom and loggia - the outdoor room. 

And remember, if the power is out - you can still stay warm.  And then there are wetback fires but that is another story.

Personal Profile : Ron Seeto

Married with 2 sons and a daughter.

Managing Partner in the Auckland office of Murray Cockburn Partnership.

The office strikes a balance between straight forward and experimental work between large scale and small commissions.  As well as Millbrook Resort Queenstown and The Links Golf Condominiums at Gulf Harbour, fireplaces have become a signature element in the architect’s residential projects including the architect’s own home.

“We specialise in making your neighbours jealous” and a fireplace is just one opportunity to ensure this !