A House Made Of Sugar
Food and urban design are a hot combination, but not as literally as what happened here…
Installation artist William Lamson created a small greenhouse out of caramelized sugar. The small shed called Solarium functions as both an experimental greenhouse that grows three species of miniature citrus trees, and as a meditative environment. This is edible architecture!
Solarium refers to a tradition of isolated outposts designed for reflection. Each of the 162 panels is made of sugar cooked to different temperatures and then sealed between two panes of window glass, this gives the greenhouse the beautiful color effects. Furthermore, it reduces the risk of visitors licking the building to get a taste of the sweet caramel. In warm months, a panel on each side of the house opens up to allow visitors to enter the house from all directions.
Established in the countryside, Solarium is designed to be viewed from afar, where it appears as a jewel-like object, and from within, for the experience of its unusual plays of light. The project was part of the Storm King for the Light and Landscape show in 2012. Lamson has more experience with using sugar as material in building. In 2010 he already painted some windows using caramel while creating A Work In Slow Descent.
