Towards Sentience: A Monumental Horse Ranch

Towards Sentience

A Monumental Horse Ranch

Project Year: 2021

Building Typology: Pavilion, Lanscape

Site Location: Taipei, Taiwan

Area: 6500 sqm

Type: Thesis Design Project

The riverside on the edge of the city was used to be a horse ranch. However, it has become an abandoned urban space since the industry collapsed. To revitalize the area, the main concept of the project is to construct a lightweight pavilion, in which horse ranch can be reintroduced as both a public retreat and a contemporary landscape simultaneously.

The In-Between Space

In order to form the ecosystem-based horse ranch, the main design strategy of the project is to create in-between spaces within the transparent pavilion. By dividing the volume into separate boxes, a variety of landscape is generated. Each outdoor space is designed with a purpose of hosting different events, including all sorts of equine activities. With the arrangement of void and solid, the pavilion and the environment merge smoothly in a tectonic approach.

Tectonic Thinking In Building Materials

To create a charming ambience exclusively for equine activities, the project is designed with a focus on the materials and the construction details. The application of natural building materials, such as wood and masonry, enhances the availability for horses and meanwhile provides a pleasant retreat for the public.

The Horizontal Characteristic Alongside The River

In response to the topography of the riverside, the pavilion shows the horizontal characteristic, which is represented by the sequential narratives of spatial arrangements. It introduces the natural resources, including sunlights, winds, moisture, and sounds, through lightweight architectural elements. To preserve the ecology, the pavilion, which can be regarded as the connection between living creatures and the nature, is designed to impose a minimized interference in the environment. Through the horizontal distribution of building volume, the impact on the land is reduced evenly. In conclusion, the horizontal characteristic of the pavilion not only reponds to the environment, but also stands for the ecosystem-based design strategy.