Architects: Tham & Videgård Hansson Arkitekter Location: Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China Design year: 2008 Construction year: 2009Curator: Ai Weiwei, Beijing, China Client: Jiang Yuan Water Engineering Ltd, Inner Mongolia, ChinaConstructed Area: 1,000 sqm aprox
The starting point of this proposal is a vertical experience as a complement to the horizontal condition of the Ordos plateau, a new topography that can take full advantage of its surroundings. The house starts with the pool at lower garden level and reaches up to the top roof terrace open to the sky. Interior spaces follow the movement, a rising spiral around the structural core, the stairs. As a result the program is distributed on a series of interior terraces that are interconnected visually yet offering seclusion and differentiating space in the section.
Architects: gh3 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Design Team: Pat Hanson, Anthony Provenzano Structural Engineer: Blackwell Bowick General Contractor: Jens Nielsen Project year: 2006-2007 Budget: US $500,000 Constructed Area: 185.8 sqm Photographs: Ben Rahn
The interior of the building was stripped back to a more modern tradition of interior. The house becomes a neutral shell punctuated by three sculptural elements – a block of stone that is associated with kitchen elements, a curved stair, and a 20′ stone bench/shelf and fireplace wall. Each of these elements is associated with windows, skylights, and double height spaces to enhance the spatial experience of the house. Kitchen working areas and storage for dishes, books and media are organized linearly along the exterior walls and are concealed behind full-height doors.
Our green friends from Inhabitat sent us this interesting project. A new prefab recently built by the students at the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture. Their goal was to build a prototype prefab conducive to elegant and sustainable living within the heart of the desert landscape.
