Take the traditional Chinese courtyard housing model and passive solar design princples in Inner Mogolia and voila…

The relationship of the house to the sun is critical. In a climate such as Ordos’ which experiences hot summers and cold winters, it is the architectural form which integrates the effects of the sun’s light and heat with the comfort of the occupied spaces. The house controls heat and light through two primary aspects: window placement and the solar chimney.

A lazy look at Google Maps makes me wonder how they will fit into the inherent settlement patterns of the local area…

Construction begins this year, so watch this space.

thanks Arch Daily