Just chilling in my lockdown garden igloo
MAN FROM HULL BUILDS HIS VERY OWN SPECTACULAR ‘SNOW FORT ON STEROIDS’
A FORMER art and design student from Hull has been hitting the headlines in Canada with the amazing igloo structure he has built in his garden, complete with its own cosy fire pit.
Philip Walker has named the unique structure his Snowzebo and it took about a week, working five hours each day, to create.
A huge snowstorm just after new year gave Philip the idea of building his first ever igloo, which is about 18ft wide and 6ft high. It’s been labelled a “snow fort on steroids” by one Canadian newspaper.
“It’s been lots of trial and error,” said Philip, who moved to Canada about 16 years ago to be with his partner, Rob Ferris.
“Traditionally, Inuit cut blocks of snow but my snow was too fresh and fluffy, so I built it literally by hand, compacting the snow bit by bit, which is why it took a little longer to build.
“As a result the igloo is delicate in appearance, but actually quite strong.
“I left a small hole in the roof as I knew I wanted a fire pit in the middle for heat.
“Our first night in it we put down blankets, made s’mores on the fire, drank champagne and we had our dog, Penelope with us, it was actually really cosy inside.
“There’s also a window so you can see outside on to the lake and the forest in the distance.”
Philip, who was born and raised off Newbridge Road, in east Hull, first met Rob 18 years ago in the city when Rob, who is Canadian, was managing the Pave bar in Princes Avenue.
“I moved to Canada to be with Rob, first to Toronto, and we are currently living at our cottage in New Brunswick - we came here to escape the city as Toronto is dealing with huge pandemic numbers and lockdowns; here in the forest there is lots of space and no one around for miles.”
Creative artist Philip, who gained his degree in ceramics from the University of Lincoln, said: “Rob is a talent agent for a marketing agency, so he can work remotely, and I’m temporarily not working thanks to the pandemic, so with all my spare time, I’m spending it outside as much as possible here in the woods.
“I always try to be creative; lately I’ve made chandeliers and lamps with crystals and recycled garbage, such as desk fans, fruit baskets and even patio furniture.
“Here at the cottage my creative outlet is using what’s around me in nature so I’ve been hanging crystals off trees on the property and I’m half-way through building a wall using shale rock.”
Philip’s igloo is obviously a temporary structure, and is already changing shape.
“We had some milder temperatures recently, so it has sunk a little, but so far it’s still standing.
“I’m actually looking forward to building other projects, but that all depends on our weather and how much snow we get.
“There’s also a large pond on the property so I’m hoping to turn that into a skating rink and I told myself I’m going to learn how to skate this year.
“I’m trying to stay positive and keep active during these dark times.”
The Snowzebo caught the attention of Philip and Rob’s local newspaper, the Telegraph-journal, which described it as a “snow fort on steroids”.
It generated lots of comments on Philip’s Facebook page, with people calling it “awesome” and “amazing”, and one person remarking: “It’s beautiful. I saw the snow and knew that wasn’t Hull.”
Philip would love to visit the city of his birth again, when the coronavirus restrictions lift.
“I do hope to visit Hull once the pandemic situation has calmed down,” he said.
“All my family is still in Hull and my older brother lives in London.
“I try to come over every few years but this isn’t the best time to be travelling.”