student collective builds fireplace shelter from reclaimed materials in northern norway

GLØDE: A Small Fireplace Shelter by MA/CO – Matières Communes

GLØDE is a small-scale fireplace shelter located in the valley of Beiarn, Nordland, Norway, at the foot of the Svartisen glacier. Conceived as a place for rest and gathering around fire, the project was developed and built by MA/CO – Matières Communes, a collective founded in March 2025 by architecture students from ENSAP Bordeaux. The structure emerged from a full-scale (1:1) design-build process and represents the collective’s initial built work, establishing an approach centered on direct construction, material experimentation, and collaborative making.

The project occupies an area of 24 sqm (6 × 4 meters) and was constructed over a ten-day period within a three-week journey across Europe. Designed as a sheltered resting point, GLØDE provides protection from the climate while accommodating informal gathering and pause within the landscape. The site is located in Beiarn (66.750709, 14.559033), a valley with approximately 1,100 inhabitants. Nearby, the Beiarn Lodge serves as a reference point for hikers and skiers, situating the shelter within an existing network of outdoor routes and seasonal activities.

all images courtesy of MA/CO – Matières Communes

compact shelter is constructed using 90% reclaimed materials

The structure was built using approximately 90% reclaimed materials, primarily sourced from the lodge’s barn and other on-site resources that had remained unused for nearly two decades. Additional elements were collected from the surrounding environment. The construction process relied on available materials and adaptive decision-making, allowing the design to evolve during assembly rather than following a predetermined system. This method supported autonomy on site and reduced dependence on new material inputs.

GLØDE’s placement contributes to the reactivation of a neglected area, developed in coordination with four local farmers responsible for maintaining the surrounding landscape. The shelter’s form responds to its immediate context, positioned along the forest edge and anchored to the valley floor. Its roof structure and hearth define a compact spatial enclosure that balances openness and protection.

Rather than functioning as a standalone object, the fireplace shelter operates as part of the broader landscape infrastructure, offering a sheltered pause along outdoor routes near the glacier. The project by MA/CO – Matières Communes collective demonstrates an approach to architecture grounded in full-scale construction, reuse of existing resources, and site-specific adaptation through collective practice.

GLØDE is a small fireplace shelter located in the valley of Beiarn, Nordland, Norway

the project was developed and built by MA/CO – Matières Communes

approximately 90 percent of the materials used are reclaimed

the structure sits at the foot of the Svartisen glacier in northern Norway

most materials were sourced from the lodge’s barn and on-site storage

GLØDE was conceived as a place for rest and gathering around fire

the shelter emerged from a full-scale (1:1) design-build process

GLØDE is a Norwegian verb that means to glow from within with a warm, soft light

the project occupies an area of 24 square meters

project info:

name: GLØDE
architect: MA/CO – Matières Communes

location: Beiarn, Nordland, Norway

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom