Man & Christmas Elf Explored In 14 Snowglobes By Various Architects

above: Magic Garden, one of fourteen snowdomes that exlpore the Nisse Landscape

This year DAC, the Dansk Architectural Center, invited architect firms Jaja, Primus and Masu to create new interpretations of the Christmas landscape in the form of snowglobes or snow domes, with modern pixies or elves (Nisse).



The project is a critical interpretation of the planning perspectives on the relationship between the elf, Santa Claus, the countryside and an investigation of the modern Nisses' influence on urban form and structural contexts, like the DAC to focus on a fundamental paradox in relation to the current pixie landscape.



On the one hand, continued development of 'modern city', with the expansion of modern nissehabitater, on the other hand, maintained the notion of 'the traditional pixie landscape' in the use of simple dichotomies 'city-country' and 'center-periphery' as understanding terms basis of planning. In practice this seems logical contradiction, however, mask or ignore. With respect to this masking plays the understanding of 'pixie landscape' as natural in contrast to the 'city' as a cultural importance.

This pixie landscape urban discourse seeks to establish the basis for a new dialectical synthesis between urban and pixie landscape planning, where pixie landscape refers to a common framework for Christmas in the urban and rural context. Based on this alternative understanding of pixie landscape, like the DAC to consider the possibility of anchoring the goblin and his little helpers in relation to the future planning of the urban-rural pixie landscape.



How does the Nisse live amongst us today? That was the fundamental question at this year's x-mas workshop at DAC. We chose to explore this seasonal topic through a variety of architectural and programmatic compositions, represented in these fourteen snow globes.

Xmas Bar:

Roof Garden:

Harbor Bath:

Xmas Rock:

Track and Bridge:

Xmas Traffic:

Stair House:

Shopping Ramp:

Bike Park:

Mix Doubles:

Double Facade:

Housing Bridge:

Stair House:

and Magic Garden shown at the top of this post.

via JAJA on NOTCOT
images courtesy of JAJA, information and text courtesy of DAC

Man & Christmas Elf Explored In 14 Snowglobes By Various Architects

above: Magic Garden, one of fourteen snowdomes that exlpore the Nisse Landscape

This year DAC, the Dansk Architectural Center, invited architect firms Jaja, Primus and Masu to create new interpretations of the Christmas landscape in the form of snowglobes or snow domes, with modern pixies or elves (Nisse).



The project is a critical interpretation of the planning perspectives on the relationship between the elf, Santa Claus, the countryside and an investigation of the modern Nisses' influence on urban form and structural contexts, like the DAC to focus on a fundamental paradox in relation to the current pixie landscape.



On the one hand, continued development of 'modern city', with the expansion of modern nissehabitater, on the other hand, maintained the notion of 'the traditional pixie landscape' in the use of simple dichotomies 'city-country' and 'center-periphery' as understanding terms basis of planning. In practice this seems logical contradiction, however, mask or ignore. With respect to this masking plays the understanding of 'pixie landscape' as natural in contrast to the 'city' as a cultural importance.

This pixie landscape urban discourse seeks to establish the basis for a new dialectical synthesis between urban and pixie landscape planning, where pixie landscape refers to a common framework for Christmas in the urban and rural context. Based on this alternative understanding of pixie landscape, like the DAC to consider the possibility of anchoring the goblin and his little helpers in relation to the future planning of the urban-rural pixie landscape.



How does the Nisse live amongst us today? That was the fundamental question at this year's x-mas workshop at DAC. We chose to explore this seasonal topic through a variety of architectural and programmatic compositions, represented in these fourteen snow globes.

Xmas Bar:

Roof Garden:

Harbor Bath:

Xmas Rock:

Track and Bridge:

Xmas Traffic:

Stair House:

Shopping Ramp:

Bike Park:

Mix Doubles:

Double Facade:

Housing Bridge:

Stair House:

and Magic Garden shown at the top of this post.

via JAJA on NOTCOT
images courtesy of JAJA, information and text courtesy of DAC

Seven Deadly Sin Snowdomes By Ligorano And Reese

Only a select few know that I've got a ridiculously enormous collection of snowdomes ( also called snowglobes, shakies or waterglobes). Most of the over 300 that I own are packed away in boxes with the exception of a few of the more artsy and unusual ones. By that I mean limited editions, signed and numbered and sold either in museums, galleries or directly from the artist.

A few days ago I wrote about the artfully twisted snowdomes and photo prints of Walter Martin and Paloma Muniz. (I don't yet own one of theirs, but I want one... I have to wait and see if they ever go on sale, lol).

I do have the WTF snowdome (a recent purchase from Urban Outfitters) and the third edition of the more offensive version by Nora Logorano and Marshall Reese, both shown below:


Which brings me to their latest collection. Ligorano and Reese have just released their Seven Deadly Sins Snowdomes, which I would LOVE to have. Each has one of the seven deadly sins depicted in translucent colored type (in a font appropriate to the sin) on a colored wood base.


above: Close-up of LUST

above: close up of ENVY

A little too pricey for me to buy the whole collection at $100.00 each. But they are fabulous, take a look:







They’re available a la carte, $100/each. Order them online here

Dimensions: 5 1/2 inches high, 3 3/4 inch wood base, 4 inch glass globe.

about the artists:



NORA LIGORANO and MARSHALL REESE (shown above) have collaborated together as Ligorano/Reese since the early 80’s. They use collaboration to blend diverse talents into a singular voice and vision. In the process of creating their work, their individual contributions cross and criss-cross between each other from brainstorming to realizing and making the art on location or in the studio.

They use unusual materials and industrial processes to make their limited edition multiples, videos, sculptures and installations, moving easily from dish towels, underwear, and snow globes, to electronic art and computer controlled interactive installations.

They take and manipulate images, audio and text from old media: print, television, radio and combine that with the new: internet and mobile telecommunications. Their pursuit is an ongoing investigation into the impact of technology on culture and the associations and meanings that the media brings to images, language and speech in politics.

Ligorano and Reese

Pure Products, USA

special thanks to See-Ming Lee for the additional photos

Check out these other 7 deadly sins related items:

•Kacper Hamilton's 7 Deadly Wine Glasses
•Rossignol Has Artists Depict The 7 Deadly Sins On Skis.