Snow chaos in Hamburg: Father and daughter build an igloo with neighbors!

Snow chaos in Hamburg: Father and daughter build an igloo with neighbors!

Hamburg is currently immersed in a white winter landscape that makes many children's eyes shine. Snowfall like this rarely happens and challenges the little ones to get creative. In the midst of this wintry idyll, Josephine, a seven-year-old girl from Bahrenfeld, and her father Jan Hintner have started a very special project: they are building an igloo in the garden. They receive support from neighborhood children who work with energy and joy. After the inner courtyard of Griegstrasse 32 is completely covered in snow, we get busy.

Building the igloo takes a whole day. The effort is sweetened with a shared lunch and children's punch. But building an igloo also brings with it challenges, such as the question of the stability of the house made of snow and the construction of the roof. In the end, however, there is an impressive work: two meters high, with space for six people, two entrances, a table made of snow and even light. There is a big surprise when Josephine discovers the warmth in the igloo - a feeling that she had previously only known from books.

A simple construction process

The method Josephine and her father use is no coincidence. Snow structures, especially igloos, require special knowledge and a lot of work. Traditionally, construction is described as challenging because it often requires a lot of time and special equipment. As a rule, large amounts of solid snow are necessary. But the Hintners can rely on a simplified design that is particularly suitable for families. This uses the formwork construction method that has been known since 1987. An exercise ball serves as a form and helps to build an igloo quickly and effectively. The instructions for this are extremely simple and enable builders large and small to take on this winter challenge.

A small compilation of igloo construction could look like this:

• Ball platzieren: Gymnastikball im Schnee fixieren
• Schnee aufschaufeln: Schnee auf den Ball schaufeln und verdichten
• Ball entfernen: Ventil öffnen und Luft ablassen, Ball vorsichtig herausziehen
• Eingang erweitern: Eingang vergrößern und Wände innen leicht abkratzen
• Sicherheit beachten: Kinder nur unter Aufsicht im Iglu spielen lassen

A touch of tradition

The tradition of building igloos goes back a long way and comes from the Inuit, who have lived with snow for hundreds of years. Self-built igloos or snow caves not only offer protection, but are also an exciting experience in nature. Skill, patience and teamwork are required. According to [Draussen-am-See], building an igloo for four people can be done in about four to five hours, while snow caves can be built much faster.

An igloo also offers a stable climate and can even save lives if conditions are good. The risk of hypothermia is significantly reduced in an igloo, and the combination of fun and safety makes igloo building a perfect winter adventure for many families.

The children's joy is obvious, and so Josephine asks her father if they could sleep in the igloo - a wish that could perhaps be fulfilled by creating a second igloo. As temperatures begin to rise on Wednesday according to the weather forecast, the family is now eagerly awaiting spring and the memories of their winter adventure in their own garden.

This shows once again how easy it can be to create special moments in life with a few creative ideas and a little snow. Hamburg in the snow not only offers a picturesque backdrop, but also numerous opportunities to enjoy the winter.