Ultra-Ruin

Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei

ULTRA-RUIN

Marco Casagrande

MATERIALS
Mahogany, Zelkova, Camphor, Taiwan Cypress, Bronze, Steel, Brick, Stone

PROJECT MANAGER
Nikita Wu

C LAB TEAM
Frank Chen, Yu-chen Chiu

INTERIOR SPACE
210 M2

SITE
Ruin Of An Abandoned Farm House And Surrounding Terraced Farms

PHOTOGRAPHS
Adda Zei

TERRACES
520 M2

YEAR
2013

LOCATION
Taipei City

CATEGORY
Hospitality Architecture, Adaptive Reuse

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.

Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei
Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei

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.

Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei
Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei
Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei

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
© AdDa Zei
Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei
Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei

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.

Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei
Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei

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.

Ultra-Ruin
Courtesy of Marco Casagrande
Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei

This design would not have had happened without and constructive dialog with the client, local people and nature.

Ultra-Ruin is an architectural response to the knowledge building that was reached through this dialog.

Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei
Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei


Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei
Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei
Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei
Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei


Ultra-Ruin
Courtesy of Marco Casagrande
Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei
Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei
Ultra-Ruin
Courtesy of Marco Casagrande
Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei
Ultra-Ruin
Courtesy of Marco Casagrande
Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei
Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei
Ultra-Ruin
Courtesy of Marco Casagrande


Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei
Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei
Ultra-Ruin
© AdDa Zei


Ultra-Ruin
Model
Ultra-Ruin
Model
Ultra-Ruin
Model
Ultra-Ruin
Model
Ultra-Ruin
Model
Ultra-Ruin
Model


Ultra-Ruin
Elevation
Ultra-Ruin
Elevation
Ultra-Ruin


Ultra-Ruin
Elevation


Ultra-Ruin
Sketch
Ultra-Ruin
Sketch
Ultra-Ruin
Sketch Plan


Ultra-Ruin
Master Plan
Ultra-Ruin
First Floor Plan
Ultra-Ruin
First Floor Plan
Ultra-Ruin
Roof