Modern Icons: The Fireorb
Have you been wondering about the very futuristic and sculptural alternative to a woodstove or fireplace you've seen floating in various Houzz images? It's called the Fireorb, and it was designed by an architect named Douglas Garofalo. Garofalo explains that the "Fireorb frees the hearth to float in the room exactly where the architect or design wants it." Let's take a look.
The fireorb can be spun 360 degrees, to face any part of the room you'd like. Here, the family can aim it toward the dinner table for meals, then rotate it toward the sectional sofa when they want to relax after dinner.
Fellow contributor Susan included a Fireorb shot in her George Jetson Ideabook. It truly does look like the future, especially when clad in stainless steel like this one.
The Fireorb creates a "hearth room" right off this kitchen.
There is an eco-friendly version of the Fireorb available that is soot and smoke free.
This one (also seen in the two images above) can be turned around so that people can enjoy it from the balcony.
Garofalo invented the Fireorb so that it would not impinge on views out the window in the manner the usual fireplace or woodstove does—this shot is a great example of how successful his design accomplishes this.
By the way, there's a full Houzz Tour of this beautiful home.
Here is one of the best examples of how the Fireorb functions as a sculptural element in a room.
The Fireorb has been the answer to many architects' woodstove/fireplace prayers! To learn more about it, check out their website here.