ORDOS 100 #22: Tham & Videgård Hansson Arkitekter

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This villa is located in plot #12 of the ORDOS project.

Architects: Tham & Videgård Hansson Arkitekter
Location: Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China
Design year: 2008
Construction year: 2009
Curator: Ai Weiwei, Beijing, China
Client: Jiang Yuan Water Engineering Ltd, Inner Mongolia, China
Constructed 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.

A low wall defines the garden, we propose birch trees standing in grass lawns, all green in contrast to the sandy dry landscape.

Predominant materials are exposed ( facades, floors, ceiling and core-staircase), plywood panel on interior walls, etched glass and ceramic for pools. All windows are fixed flush mounted with stainless steel fixtures.

 
 
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Nom_de_Guerre says:

I love Tham/Videgard but Archdaily should seriously consider compiling all the buildings that look like their logo! :)

 
# February 26, 2009 at 14:29
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Partick Bateman says:

“A low wall defines the garden, we propose birch trees standing in grass lawns, all green in contrast to the sandy dry landscape.”

it’s sandy and dry for a reason.

yet more ORDROSS

yawn

 
# February 27, 2009 at 04:13
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Mary Hill says:

Who cares?

Whats interesting about designing a house in isolation?

Its a dreadful masterplan, and the whole project is completely meaningless. Its just big scale name dropping.

Housing is such an important issue, but the Ordos project is regressive, and contributes nothing to the wider housing debate.

 
# February 27, 2009 at 04:15
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Diego Ibarra says:

I have to agree with Patrick:

““A low wall defines the garden, we propose birch trees standing in grass lawns, all green in contrast to the sandy dry landscape.”

it’s sandy and dry for a reason. ”

In addition, what happens with dealing with orientations and WWR (window-to-wall ratios), etc. Impressive to see (with the limited amount of information available), that there are architects designing with such little concern about the local context in an environment that is known for its interesting vernacular architecture (which provides valuable passive environmental strategies).

 
# February 27, 2009 at 17:00
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Andrei P says:

I can’t believe my eyes. Such a project would never pass in the school I go, and this is supposed to get build someday? Copy/paste every floor and change some windows size. No spatial relation whatsoever between floors. No light to the staircase, not to mention the lack of privacy the bedrooms should get and the number of stairs one would have to go up.
So much waste of space and money!

 
# February 28, 2009 at 12:25
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Marian says:

Like this project !!!!and the model . expressive

 
# August 30, 2009 at 14:04
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Joe says:

This is a great project!
It’s quite complex and imaginative if you look closely.

 
# September 12, 2009 at 15:54

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