ORDOS 100 #34: NU architectuuratelier
This villa is located in plot #28 of the ORDOS project.
Architects: NU architectuuratelier
Location: Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China
Design year: 2008
Construction year: 2009-2010
Curator: Ai Weiwei, Beijing, China
Client: Jiang Yuan Water Engineering Ltd, Inner Mongolia, China
Constructed Area: 1,000 sqm aprox
A. Design stategy
In Ordos, a desert is turned into a prosperous cityscape. In this reclaimed territory with a hostile climate we are asked to intervene. The program: a house. Our concept: universal need for shelter. Solution: a void.
In order to protect we extract mass instead of adding it. We create a negative, abstract space. This emptiness is the generator of an inverted house which organises itself in a pentagonal loop.
The Sky-house is born.
Hidden for the elements, the house is its own horizon, reflecting itself encircling a sky-well void. In doing this, it creates strong horizontal relations in between the different functions and the imaginative vertical axis. This axis is swallowing the zenith sky with all its varieties and subtle changes (daytime and seasonal).
The house, when seen from the street, is reduced to a thin signal; it is a scar in the landscape. What is visible are mere indications of a cultivated structure. No building is blocking the sight through the transparent garden. Our plot becomes visually part of the greenbelt. A fence indicates the intention of creating a private space, which is ephemeral upon the landscape, yet solid and strong underneath.
The dwelling acquires its identity from its internal space rather than from its external design.
B. Space design
In general all functions are organised around a dug-out courtyard. All functions benefit the ideal orientation and have specific relations to other functions across the courtyard.
A 5-sided (pentagonal) belt is running around this courtyard, passing through some important living areas, framing specific views. The belt is defined by the retaining wall, in which very specific spaces were created to organise Chinese kitchen, vertical circulations, Media room, Library, Office/Lobby…
Along this belt, spaces are differentiated in character, brightness and openness, alternating to the courtyard- or back side. Private rooms are introverted and have ‘specific” relations towards the courtyard and circulation, while more public spaces are extraverted in character. All functions are activated by interesting views and relationships.
As we enter the house, we drive into a cave-like space, arriving directly on the first level underneath the earth surface. From within the car we already catch a glance of the courtyard. “A private world”.
The entrance is related to an office space and lobby. Then, it opens towards the main living space, which has a inclined ceiling inviting to the outside patio At the back, a massive retaining wall carries all serving functions like a kitchen, lounge area, wine cellar, vault…
At the very end of the living area, we find a small door. It leads to a baroque staircase which develops itself from a door size to a 5 meters patio branch.
From this point on, we have arrived on the belt, being able to use it in either directions. The belt brings us to all different atmospheres from sports area to resting or entertaining places and from sleeping places to staff quarters… an endless loop.
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- situation plan
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- level -01 plan
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- level -02 plan
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- ground floor plan
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- section 01
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- section 02
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- section 03
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- section 04
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- unfolded facade
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- rear windows diagrams
I like the cross shaped diagram they started with much better, than what they made out of it in the end, … also it seems as if there is much more earth removed than is put back on the lot, as the stripy diagram suggests…. could have been much better.
I like it. Perhaps the best Ordos House I have seen. The fact they are designing with models instead of getting lost in the digisphere is refreshing. I also like how it relates to the history of the building culture in that part of the world. Too many of these projects completely ignore context and culture.
At the end this Ordos project will look like new LAS VEGAS in it’s bad manner. Mix of everything, mostly designed buildings(except very few interesting projects) looking like cakes on plate and completely ignoring context. Just a waste of fund and ruining nature.
AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO IS TIRED OF SEEING AND HEARING ABOUT THESE ORDOS HOUSES?
ARE THEY GOING TO BUILD THESE THINGS OR WHAT?
EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND IT SEEMS LIKE THERE’S ANOTHER 25 NEW DESIGNERS INVOLVED.
WHEN WILL IT ALL END?!!!
ORDOS 100 #34: NU architectuuratelier http://shortna.me/b9205
as the title odros 100 says it is 100 houses from 100 designers ;) cheese
Why not bore down to the center of the earth and build your house there? Build your house with molten rock people.
nice nuclear shelter. i like it . but… i dont know. it makes me think of some kind of mental illness of the people living there after one year. too deep. too deep
No. Not at all.
Seems like the main criticism on this site is about shape and appearance. However, that is not architecture. Who will live in this fairytale?
Won’t the sand just fill up the void over time? Interesting design, but looks impractical. I do like the models and the ancient Chinese people in the renderings for effect.
Impressing design. Verry relevant, in away, to the Amphitheater House, published two weeks ago. True architecture.
BORING!
thank god for this global recession! we wont see much bull for long!
Cheese, you are not the only one… this ordos thing is so annoying. the whole thing, 100 houses designed by 100 invited designers, is irrelevent architecture. i am wondering does every one of those designers understand the location, the people, the life style, the weather?…. or does aiweiwei pay the site investigation for architects? and who will live in such buildings? distorted architect’s ego!!!
La idea de excavar parece atractiva, sin embargo no se indican condiciones de implantación, no existe indicación de vientos, no se sabe como es la asoleación en verano o en invierno y el patio debe implicar un alto costo de mantenimiento.
No me convencio el proyecto
The concept of underground houses is really cool to me. http://tinyurl.com/dgtpx6
I think the concept of the home shown on top is amazing. I don’t know why we aren’t building more like this. new laws in california have homes built with open space all around and no longer built into hills…or into earth. energy saved
RT @Mike_Brenner: underground architecture – http://jijr.com/hf6A
Ordos 100 will be dead museum of architecture!
I understand why some of you feel annoyed to see ordos 100 projects. like most of new development project in the world, this is what the client wants. (plus, yes, almost all of them out of 100 offices, have been to the site) I think it is exciting to see different design and their tactic from various architects office all around the world.
so people, lighten up.
And cheese, the answer is yes, they are going to build them as soon as all architects finalize their developement.
http://tinyurl.com/dgtpx6 NU architectuuratelier designed an underground villa
Ordos #34 by Belgian NU Architecten http://bit.ly/25zEgl
Maybe the only project which is a rely to the context of the desert situation!
google pueblo indians its been done
12:49 AM Apr 11th
underground architecture – http://jijr.com/hf6A