Light a fire in that bowl

Jo Croft

• Last Updated: February 28. 2009 9:30AM UAE / February 28. 2009 5:30AM GMT

Light and portable, these can be used on even a small patio, as there is no need to worry about smoke or to clean up embers or ash afterwards. Courtesy: The Outdoor GreatRoom Company

We’ve come some way since our caveman ancestors thought to rub two sticks together but fascination with the warmth, comfort and beauty of fire remains as enduring as ever.

Until recently, incorporating a fireplace into a patio or garden design usually meant committing to a permanent structure but, with the increased popularity of “glass coals” – glass specially designed for clean burning – designers are producing an array of unusual fire bowls and fire tables that don’t need to be hooked up to a separate gas source.

The bowl itself usually consists of a metal (steel and copper are popular) or stone base. Light and portable, these can be used on even a small patio, as there is no need to worry about smoke or to clean up embers or ash afterwards. The flame becomes a centrepiece, around which people gather.

“Our fire pits and fire pit tables have aluminium bases, and come in wrought and cast iron, as well as cast resin finishes,” explains Clinton Blevins, the president of California Outdoor Concepts, which produces a range of round, granite-topped tables in various sizes.

Reflecting the trend towards using these as focal points for gatherings, he says that most people tend to go for “chat” models, coffee table pieces about 58 centimetres high, which are easy to sit around.

The company also makes dining (74cm) and bar height (107cm) models. All are free-standing and can be operated using natural or propane gas. The fire bowl sits in the centre and is usually filled with tumbled glass. “Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder, but functionality and the ability to create a conversation area are the most important features,” says Blevins.

In the UAE Parasol Dubai sells a wicker fire table from Outdoor Great Rooms.

“Crystal fire is a big hit; although it has a modern, clean look, it has a warm glow that draws people in,” explains Jessica Hall of Outdoor Great Rooms. “Our crystal fire inserts feature a flame that burns above high-temperature, tinted, tumbled glass.” The traditional, wicker-patterned table is ideally suited to spaces with an existing theme – complimentary rather than jaw-dropping.

However, if it’s a conversation-starter you want, look no further than Oriflamme. These delightfully wacky fire tables come complete with a coloured glass centrepiece in a choice of designs that produce flames in unlikely shapes, ranging from a sunburst or flower to the yin and yang symbol or even a Las Vegas-style martini glass.

“The Oriflamme is piece of furniture, an outdoor heating element, and a piece of art for the patio or back yard,” says Jolene Dodson of All Backyard Fun, the online distributor of the tables. “It also acts as an ice chest, with an ice bucket that swaps in and out.” At $1,195 (Dh4,390), it’s certainly affordable and, some would agree with Dodson, “fabulous”.

Someone who has embraced the idea of fire as an art centrepiece is John T Unger, an American sculptor and artist who produces dramatic steel fire bowls, hand drawn and cut, with flame-shaped outlines. Made from recycled steel propane containers and finished with a rust patina, Unger’s two bestsellers are the wittily named Great Bowl O’ Fire and Big Bowl of Zen. The former has a stylised flame border, while the latter is smooth-edged. He designed the second following requests from clients for a simpler shape. “I didn’t want to at first because I wasn’t sure I could charge the same for the simpler one, but people want clean shapes, and I still get to charge the same price,” he laughs. “There’s a poetry in the idea of cutting flame shapes into a container that held flammable gas – I love that the design references the function.

“When I started out five years ago, there weren’t as many fire bowl designers but now there are tons; it’s definitely an idea that’s gaining traction. Gas-burning fire pits have also become quite popular, especially when combined with fire crystal glass.”

Unger explains that sustainability is a major focus of his work as an artist, noting wryly that his bowls are designed to last “only 500 or 1,000 years”. “My fire bowls are as eco-friendly as a fire pit can be.”

But, he adds, when designing for fire, safety is a key consideration. “I design for functionality. My work is intended to be useful as well as beautiful.”

Outdoor Great Rooms has a UAE distributor, Parasol Dubai, www.outdoorgreatrooms.com, www.parasoldubai.com; John T Unger, www.johntunger.com; California Outdoor Concepts, www.californiaoutdoorconcepts.com; All Backyard Fun, Allbackyardfun.com