Location: Ordos, China.

Architect: Plasma Studio.

Plasma has been selected for the next phase of development in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, after the shortcomings of Ordos 100 became clear. The local planning authority is seeking to explore new ways of procuring innovative and high-quality architecture through the establishment of codes and rules. Plasma opted for a strategy that highlights and contrasts the Cartesian nature of the cubes with an expressive ground and internal core strategy. The ground is very loose and needs to be radically altered to suit the masterplan, so the proposal uses processes of artificially generated topography to produce a locally specific landscape. The ground itself operates as a multilayered and intense metabolic system whilst offering continuity to the Mongolian undulating landscape. The buildings’ structure is supported by the central void and a colonnade of columns behind the external façade. The third function for the void is the vertical distribution of the air supply. In Ordos’ extreme climatic condition earth-tempered air supply can work really well. The stale air is taken out on the upper sides of the void itself which operates as a natural air lifter. The folded interior ceilings are supporting this airflow. Ultimately, the system transforms into an artificial rational box with mere reverberances of the organic underlying organization.