Zonda - Resource Library

How to make your fireplace design ideas come to life. Fireplaces have long been a focal point of homes and gathering places. With advances in technology, the fireplaces of today can fit just about any space.

In this expert panel discussion with ARCHITECT's Editor-in-Chief, dive into the possibilities of modern fireplace design. Examine case studies and ideas for hospitality, commercial, and residential spaces; including fireplace types and fuels, specification considerations, and how to bring your vision to life.

People have been gathering around fire since the beginning of humankind. In the modern age, advances in technology and a focus on forward-thinking design have combined to create design opportunities with a focus on color and fire.

In this expert panel discussion with ARCHITECT's Editor-in-Chief, examine case studies and concepts that show the power of color and fire in architecture; including how color plays a key role in the built environment influencing us physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Fire. It’s been integral to human evolution and civilization as a tool for heating, lighting, cooking, and socialization for millennia. Today, with the advent of central heating, electric lighting, and highly sophisticated cooking appliances, fire tends to be used primarily for ambience but continues to provide an important role in gathering and socializing.

This course will explore how fire has evolved from a utilitarian element to a technological tool that can be used in both vernacular and high style architecture as a design element indoors, outdoors, and as functional art.

Resimmercial or commercidential? The blurring of the residential and commercial lines of design isn’t necessarily new - but the trend is evolving.

One of the main questions in this Session with ARCHITECT's Editor-in-Chief is "Where do we draw that line between interior and exterior, between public and private, to create a holistic design which provides an experience for whoever's using it in whatever type of use?"

Feature-rich fire innovations are providing architects and designers with design tools and resources to deliver aesthetically-integrated fireplaces that satisfy today’s highly-coveted goals of relaxing and gathering at home. While traditional fireplaces are still in demand, evolution in location, technology, and design have expanded the possibilities.

Create natural connections and health benefits within the built environment through thoughtfully-designed custom fireplaces. By including fire features within a biophilic-centered design approach, there are opportunities for infusing a space with natural elements that are visual, auditory, olfactory, and tactile. Custom fire features not only deliver ambiance, social centering, and visual captivation - but also create an element of relaxation and harmony that is essential to biophilic design.

Achieve dynamic multisensory features of light, color, heat, and sound through fire which promotes physical and mental wellness. A fire feature crafted to be harmonious with the overall design intention offers comfort, calm, and security in the built environment. For your clients and projects striving for interior spaces that support a wellness mission, the sensory principles of a fire can help deliver the overall impression and provide the health-inducing benefits they desire.

Wellness is a growing trend in many industries, including building design. This is especially true since the COVID-19 pandemic markedly disrupted how we work, learn, live, and play in the spaces we inhabit.

This course will analyze the growth of the wellness industry as it relates to the built environment and will introduce the learner to the WELL Building Standard, which is a rating system to help buildings and organizations deliver more thoughtful and intentional spaces. Concurrently, we will explore how hearth products such as electric fireplaces can be incorporated into commercial and residential design to enhance occupant health and well-being.

Do fireplaces have a role in zero energy projects of our future? The answer is yes, and the optimal solution lies in electric fireplaces. Architects are increasingly focused on Net Zero (NZ), Net Positive (NP), and Zero Energy Ready Homes (ZERH) as a way to reduce the carbon footprint of projects and meet regulatory mandates. Innovative electric fireplace technologies make them a clean heating alternative, providing the look and feel of a real fire without harmful pollutants.

Fully customizable, luxury fireplaces and fire features expand the versatility of where hearths can be located, whether in residential or commercial projects. They add a personalized, experiential element to a space, and are increasingly being used in commercial facilities to provide ambience, a focal point, and even marketing, as logos and company names can be incorporated into fireplace designs.

This course will help you understand the technologies and design options available with made-to-order gas fireplaces, as well as how to work with a manufacturer to see a custom fireplace project through from predesign to installation.