Gyrofocus: The World's Most Beautiful Fireplace

There are quite a few things of beauty in this world, but none of them are in the shape of this fireplace, which simply looks amazing. Naturally, this design will split opinions, but all in all, we like it a lot. How about you? Read on to find out more.

Actually, the Gyrofocus fireplace isn't just the world's most beautiful fireplace, it's been voted the world's most beautiful object by the World’s Most Beautiful Object 2008–2009 in the Pulchra design competition. This design competition is the first beauty contest exclusively reserved for objects, whatever that means. Needless to say that this is one incredibly beautiful fireplace. Its look will polarize opinions about its design.

Gyrofocus is made by the French fireplace maker Focus. It can pivot 360° and has been exhibited in several contemporary museums, including the prestigious Guggenheim. We are a bit in awe of this design. It's amazing. For it to work well, you'd need a massive space though, with really high ceilings.

[via Hello Bauldoff]

Comments (16)

I don't agree that it's beautiful. It looks like a cartoon mouth eating fire to me.

posted by austinpeahen on October 15th 2009 at 4:11pm
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It's simple and nice to me.

posted by littlelight on October 16th 2009 at 12:56am
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That's one of the things with this fireplace, it polarizes opinions. I've heard people refer to it as a squashed pacman face eating fire, to the most beautiful thing that they have seen.

I wouldn't go that far, but I find it quite elegant.

posted by range on October 16th 2009 at 3:55am
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"cartoon mouth eating fire" sounds like a positive description to me. This thing is hugely cool.

posted by maximumHOTbottom on October 16th 2009 at 2:14pm
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It's non-traditional. That by itself WILL destroy any type of value, respect and virtue to people that ONLY enjoy traditional decor; with that said, as far as fireplaces go, I think this is one of the most beautiful solutions (personally, I don't like fireplaces at all). It does waste space, it's HUGE, it's probably a little dangerous, but it also adds a big wow factor, even bigger than its dimensions; too bad it wasn't tagged an iconic-last-name tag, otherwise, it would've been a holy-fied classic.

posted by Djluckyonline on October 16th 2009 at 4:02pm
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While, I don't know if it's the world's most beautiful object (uhhh - Leica M8, anyone?!) I do think it's the world's most beautiful fireplace.

posted by cleeuw on October 16th 2009 at 4:04pm
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I like it better now that I'm thinking of it as a cartoon mouth eating fire! that is hilarious :)

posted by a.hidden.bird on October 16th 2009 at 4:14pm
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You should have put this as one of your "Hot or Not". Everyone would have to agree that it is "Hot", by one definition of the word or another. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

posted by karsha on October 16th 2009 at 4:39pm
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The fireplace is out of place! It doesn't match the interior and it is indeed quite ugly! However, if it is a cartoon mouth eating fire - it is indeed hilarious! :)O

posted by flobeau on October 16th 2009 at 4:40pm
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I like it. I like the simplicity of it.

posted by junklover on October 16th 2009 at 4:54pm
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I love almost all creations by FOCUS.

posted by ziiip on October 17th 2009 at 7:28am
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i would prefer it in white,although then it would get probably dirty. The shape is cool. The only thing I don't like is that the space behind it becomes limited.

posted by Aster on October 17th 2009 at 9:35am
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This is amazing. Love the space underneath it.

posted by Cosmotosis on October 17th 2009 at 9:34pm
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I think it's pretty and it's unusual, which is always a good thing as far as I'm concerned. But beyond that, I don't think it's completely gorgeous or anything I'd ever want to own.

posted by SIUCarbondale10 on October 18th 2009 at 12:38am
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I like the super-simple design of this fireplace and find it fascinating to look at. However, I don't like it well enough to ever own one and I also see it as dangerous to small children (crawling underneath it, for instance).

posted by Honore on October 18th 2009 at 6:26pm
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I love this fireplace! I am trying desperately to get it incorporated in my step-dad's vacation house...

posted by lemonadefish on October 19th 2009 at 10:18am
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