I’ve always thought of indoor fireplaces as magical entities.

Emerging from the earth and the mysteries of its interacting elements, fires offer the beauty of dancing flames, the hypnotic allure of red-hot coals, soul- and body-warming heat, and—for the catastrophically minded among us—the subtle threat of uncontained conflagration.

Therein lies the magic: the harnessing of this most fickle of elements through the marvels of technological innovation.

Escea Fireplaces, a wonder from way down-under (Southern New Zealand), has advanced the art of delivering the flame. All of their gas fireplaces offer unparalleled design freedom: nary a bulky cast-iron box or unsightly double-walled conduit in sight.

To the contrary, the direct-vent technology lets users place the fire wherever they desire: “with a zero-clearance rating, no need for grills, and venting that can run up, sideways, and even under the floor.”

This nifty feat of prestidigitation translates to enjoying those dancing flames wherever one darn-well pleases, whether that’s in an external wall, integrated into an island, expertly wedged into a corner, or smack in the middle of a room as a space divider. The zero-clearance technology even allows integration with media: TVs or other electronics may be surface-mounted or recessed as low as eight inches above the top of the glass.

Escea Fireplace’s superior heat dissipation also allows a variety of cladding materials. The options are limited only by one’s imagination, everything from timber, marble, and laminate (as an element of bespoke cabinetry, pictured below) to traditional options like ceramic and glass tile.

KS55 is Escea’s smaller offering. It’s a shallow linear fireplace that doesn’t compromise on flame viewing. Choose from the mesh barrier model (delivers warmth directly out the front) or glass barrier that not only offers a high-def view of the flames, but also allows heat to be vented—into adjacent rooms or even to an outdoor patio.

At almost 90″ long, the larger KS75 offers an expansive, stunning display that’s every bit as alluring as framed art. Only in this case you’ll be framing flames, as they perform the atavistic dance that’s been warming the souls of homo sapiens for many millennia.

These lovely linear repositories of warmth are now available in North America: “with retailers in five U.S. states and three Canadian provinces, as well as warehousing in Chicago and reps on both coasts.” See Escea to learn more.