Ordos 100 displays the emerging talent of MOS in Herzog's China challenge
One year ago Herzog & de Meuron's Jacques Herzog picked 100 of the world's most talented emerging architects to fulfil his project for 100 houses by 100 architects in the Ordos Desert, Inner Mongolia, Ordos 100. This villa by MOS is one of the designs which draws upon the traditional Chinese courtyard house and nomadic Yurt typologies to explore issues of performance and sustainability in the Inner Mongolian desert.
The vast and undeveloped site is covered with snow in the winter revealing desert, dunes, and brush by summer. Throughout the year there are dramatic temperature swings from day to night. Responding to this unusual climate, a relationship of courtyards and thermal chimneys was developed to allow for the optimization of comfort and natural light. Each living space of the house is designed as a distinct volume, with individual sloping roof forms, all unique to each program.
Each spatial activity of the house is divided into separate room types, which are developed as hollow shell hip-roofed units. Utilizing parametric modeling, the more compressed a unit is the taller it becomes. Thus resulting in six distinct courtyard spaces and eleven rooms, which range from 4m to 10m in height. Working with regional materials of brick and concrete, each unit is built of structural cast-in-place concrete and faced with brick on the exterior. The house facilities are vast including two dining rooms, a games room, swimming pool, gym, two kitchens and a wine cellar among other rooms. Architect: MOS, Michael Meredith, Hilary Sample
Design Team: Lasha Brown, James Tate, Lorenzo Marasso, Heather Bizon, Shu- Chang, Vivian Chin (translation)
Structural Engineer: Simpson Gumpertz & Heger- Paul Kassabian
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