Modular complex in the steppe. Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier
09/04/2024.
[Inner Mongolia] China
metalocus, NICOLÁS RUIZ CARRILLO
metalocus, NICOLÁS RUIZ CARRILLO
Ger Atelier architecture studio in collaboration with Inner Mongolian Grand Architecture Design CO., LTD., has completed the construction of the Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. An area that ranges from large green territories to arid deserts and where you can also find parts of the Great Wall of China.
The project is located in a territory with a large area of grasslands, where grazing is practised. The project was inspired by the harshness of the climate and the difficulties it generates to survive in it. It paid special attention to the Mongolian Ger system to design modules which follow assembly patterns, types of living spaces and construction techniques reminiscent of pastoral dwellings and cultural tourism on the prairies.
The project is located in a territory with a large area of grasslands, where grazing is practised. The project was inspired by the harshness of the climate and the difficulties it generates to survive in it. It paid special attention to the Mongolian Ger system to design modules which follow assembly patterns, types of living spaces and construction techniques reminiscent of pastoral dwellings and cultural tourism on the prairies.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Ground Floor of the main building. Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier.
Module 1 Floor Plan. Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier.
Module 2 Floor Plan. Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier.
Module 3 Floor Plan. Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier.
Longitudinal Section. Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier.
Cross Section. Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier.
Evolution of the yurt. Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier.
Axonometric 1. Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier.
Axonometric 2. Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier.
Axonometric 3. Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier.
Volumetric Diagram. Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier.
Typological Composition. Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier.
Traditional and proposed construction systems. Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier.
Traditional and proposed construction systems. Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier.
Structural Simulation. Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier.
Axonometric exploited. Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier.
Modulation and construction system. Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier.
Construction Diagram. Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier.
Construction Diagram. Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier.
Ger Atelier uses the pole ger system, a structural system composed of glued wooden poles of small cross section overlapped orthogonally. Furthermore, this system is complemented by an interpretation of the traditional Hana wall, where willow twigs and rawhide ropes are replaced by integrated glued wooden posts and prefabricated steel components, accumulating and combining in an orthogonal logic to build a system stable structural.
The material selection and structural model database of the envelope structure are combined to maximize the uniformity of modules, while achieving the functions of material conservation, efficiency improvement and cost control. In structural design, the focus is on addressing issues such as multi-level coupling and site fault tolerance to ensure airtightness, thermal insulation and thermal insulation of the building, while achieving the effect of prefabricated assembly.
The material selection and structural model database of the envelope structure are combined to maximize the uniformity of modules, while achieving the functions of material conservation, efficiency improvement and cost control. In structural design, the focus is on addressing issues such as multi-level coupling and site fault tolerance to ensure airtightness, thermal insulation and thermal insulation of the building, while achieving the effect of prefabricated assembly.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
Project description by Ger Atelier
In the pursuit of sustainable development in pastoral areas, people are actively seeking solutions from multiple dimensions. The integration of climate, resources, housing, production, and culture in pastoral areas has created its unique attributes. We keenly feel the existing problems in the sustainable development of pastoral dwellings, as well as the lack of precise and comprehensive solutions in the practical process, which urgently requires systematic sorting and creative exploration of sustainable development in pastoral areas. In response to the harsh climate, scattered housing structures, and strong coupling of production and residence in pastoral areas, the team has developed a lightweight prefabricated building system suitable for local nature, resources, and society. The Mongolian ger system with a lightweight wooden pole structure is one of the many systems we have developed, which provides settlement layout patterns, types of housing spaces, and corresponding construction techniques for grassland pastoral and cultural tourism residences.
I. Prototype Design: In the grassland human settlement environment, the traditional Mongolian ger is an important carrier of wisdom. The traditional Mongolian ger carries the life, production, and ecological values of nomadic ethnic groups, and it features easy assembly, disassembly, and portability. The dome-shaped space of the traditional Mongolian ger is a reflection of the spiritual world and core values of nomadic ethnic groups, as well as an ingenious response to natural climate. In the design of the pole ger system, the spatial form of the traditional Mongolian ger dome is inherited through geometric reconstruction. Unit modules and a combination expansion mechanism are incorporated into the organization of the planar space to create a more diverse and open architectural space that meets modern usage needs. This results in a flexible architectural prototype and database.
Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center by Ger Atelier. Photograph by Dou Yujun.
II. Structure Design: The pole ger system is a structural system composed of small cross-section integrated glued wooden poles orthogonally overlapped. The pole ger system extracts the wisdom of the traditional Mongolian ger’s Hana wall and evolves into an assembly-type structural system suitable for the grassland. The traditional Mongolian ger’s Hana wall forms an elastic structural system through the binding of willow twigs and rawhide ropes, which is also the most brilliant part of the traditional Mongolian ger wooden structural system. The willow twigs and rawhide ropes are replaced by integrated glued wooden poles and prefabricated steel components, accumulating and combining in an orthogonal logic to construct a stable structural system. By scientifically calculating and arranging the poles, a structural model database that can be freely selected to respond to different climates, scales, and spatial forms is established. This system features factory prefabrication, on-site assembly, small structural cross-sections, and light overall weight, allowing for rapid construction and installation on the grassland without the need for large mechanical equipment.
III. System Design: Building upon the foundation of the structural design, and in response to practical needs, the integration of composite maintenance structures, energy systems, and intelligent systems is implemented. The material selection and structural model database of the enclosing structure are matched to maximize the uniformity of modules, while achieving the roles of material conservation, efficiency enhancement, and cost control. In structural design, the focus is on addressing issues such as multi-level coupling and on-site fault tolerance to ensure the building’s air tightness, thermal insulation, and heat insulation, while achieving the effect of prefabricated assembly. The heating system utilizes low-temperature radiant electric heating film and a wireless remote intelligent control system to accurately monitor and collect energy consumption data, independently regulate the temperature of each individual module, substantially control energy consumption, and enhance residential comfort.
This system explores a new lightweight prefabricated building system for contemporary grassland living from the perspective of low-carbon livability. The sustainable development of the grassland living environment is an interdisciplinary and comprehensive issue. We use architecture as a carrier, proactively drawing wisdom from relevant fields within our reach, and consciously exploring a new paradigm for the sustainable development of the grassland living environment, continuously advancing the development of the grassland living environment. After years of research and experimentation, the team has launched a series of contemporary pastoral dwelling architectural systems that meet the needs of the times and embody the inheritance of grassland culture.
More information
Architects
Ger Atelier. Zalagenbaier, Huhehada.
Design team
Daimurigen, Qu Wenyong, Mengkezhula, Liu Handong (internship), Xie Haodong (internship), Zhao Zhen (internship).
Collaborators
Inner Mongolian Grand Architecture Design CO.,LTD.
Design Guidance.- Zhang Pengju.
Developing Party.- Zhengxiangbaiqi Weilisi Industrial Service Co., Ltd.
Design Guidance.- Zhang Pengju.
Developing Party.- Zhengxiangbaiqi Weilisi Industrial Service Co., Ltd.
Builder
Ger Atelier.
Dates
August 2023.
Location
Zhengxiangbaiqi, Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia, China.
Photography
Dou Yujun.
Gang Gang, Zha Sanko Jask, DaDa, Tara Takawaka Ger Atelier
Ger Atelier is a studio based in Inner Mongolia, China and was founded by Gang Gang, Zha Sanko Jask, DaDa and Tara Takawaka. Ger atelier explores the secret of the Mongolian yurt and translates its wisdom. They are a nomadic studio, which wanders between rationality and sensitivity, creativity and endless imagination.
Ger is a Mongolian word that means Mongolian yurt, home, forms of housing and lifestyle of nomads. Ger members are idealists, fascinated by the complexity and contradiction of the world, attempting a type of lifestyle that is underrated. Natural, Chaos, Nomadic, Ecological, Symbiosis, Order...
Ger is a Mongolian word that means Mongolian yurt, home, forms of housing and lifestyle of nomads. Ger members are idealists, fascinated by the complexity and contradiction of the world, attempting a type of lifestyle that is underrated. Natural, Chaos, Nomadic, Ecological, Symbiosis, Order...
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