Several months ago we introduced you in METALOCUS the architect Marco Casagrande through his project Sandworm as an architect highly connected to the closely environment of its projects. This sensitivity appears again in the reconstruction of an abandoned farmhouse ruin in Taiwan, through which he achieves to create a wonderful project.
His work of understanding the surroundings as well as his way of using the closely materials, guaranteeing an amazing results. Starting from the design of a table and its storage space, the project grows until the colonization of the terraced farms.
Besides, the drawings and plans he makes are, apart from really beautiful, in accordance with the kind of project.
Project descripcion by the architect.
Ultra-Ruin is a wooden architectural organism that is growing from the ruins of an abandoned red brick farmhouse in the meeting place of terraced farms and jungle. The weak architecture follows the principles of Open Form and is improvised on the site based on instincts reacting on the presence of jungle, ruin and local knowledge.
The complex has a variety of multi-functional spaces and platforms that can be activated for different living functions and for meditation. The spatial continuity between interior and exterior spaces is flexible – also the inside is out and the jungle is in the house. The Ultra-Ruin is an architectural instrument played by nature including human. The main user is a private family, but the space is occasionally opened up for wider meetings.
Ultra-Ruin is more of an organic accident, than based on industrial control. Accident is greater than architectural control. Architectural control has been opened up in order to let nature to step in and human error to take place. In order to understand the dynamics of an accident one must be present. To be present is the key of all art.
Architecture is not an independent language and architecture is not talking alone. Architecture needs nature to become part of nature. Ultra-Ruin is a post-ruin condition, where human has come back to the house / ruin and share the same space with jungle.
The Ultra-Ruin has been developed in close and still ongoing dialog with the client since 2009. The first architectural reaction was to build a table around which we could talk. Then to build a shelter for this table. The rest of the Ultra-Ruin has grown up around this initial impact. We still keep talking and the Ultra-Ruin keeps growing as an open form.
Architect.- Marco Casagrande.
Project Manager.- Nikita Wu.
C-LAB Team.- Frank Chen, Yu-Chen Chuiu.
Location.- Ruin of an abandoned farm house and surrounding terraced farms, Yangming Mountain, Taipei, Taiwan.
Built area.- 210 m².
Terraces.- 520 m².
Materials.- Mahogany, zelkova, camphor, Taiwan cypress, bronze, steel, stone, brick.
Completed.- 2013.
