High-performance utility solutions for traditional housing
For Ger Plug-In 3.0 Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (l-r): Laura Viscovich, Executive Director, Holcim Foundation; Manit Rastogi (Chair of Jury), Founding Partner of Morphogenesis, India; Joshua Bolchover, District Development Unit, Hong Kong; Dulguun Batkhisheg, Energy Efficient Design Build, Mongolia; Jersey Poon, District Development Unit, Hong Kong; and Priya Pawar, Program Manager – Holcim Awards, Holcim Foundation.
Presenting the Holcim Awards 2023 Silver winner for Asia Pacific - Ger Plug-In 3.0.
A housing prototype upgrades Ger (traditional felt tent) dwellings to provide affordable and energy efficient housing with integrated infrastructure that improves air quality, health, and wellbeing.
By Joshua Bolchover - District Development Unit, Hong Kong and
Over 840,000 people in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia live in sprawling districts of gers (traditional felt tents) and self-built houses. Their energy supply is based on coal or coke briquettes for heating each winter as temperatures can drop below -30°C, sewage or sanitation infrastructure is non-existent, 95% of residents use pit latrines, and only 1% have access to piped water. The architects propose an energy efficient housing prototype that provides the ger houses with sanitary infrastructure such as toilet, shower, septic tank, and electric heating system. They further propose the addition of living and sleeping spaces. The core unit is available at a relatively low price which can then be extended depending on their financial resources.
Project authors
District Development Unit, Hong Kong
Energy Efficient Design Build
Mongolia
Energy Efficient Design Build
Mongolia
District Development Unit, Hong Kong
Energy Efficient Design Build
Mongolia
Ger Hub
Mongolia
Joshua Bolchover from District Development Unit introduces an incremental strategy to create affordable housing that supports the sustainable transformation of the city.
The architecture of the Ger Plug-In 3.0 is prefabricated and based on the cheapest traditional way to build a house while upgrading its performance to meet the challenges of its change from a nomadic to urban context. Further, the household’s energy mix changes from raw fuel to electricity. The energy use intensity is reduced by 36% when compared to self-built houses that use coal, which represents an estimated 7.8-ton CO2 emission reduction. The Ger Plug-In 3.0 prototype is currently under construction as part of the in-situ incremental upgrading strategy for the ger districts to improve air quality, health, and wellbeing through access to affordable and energy efficient housing with integrated infrastructure.
Project Status: Under construction since January 2023.
An exemplary model for building conservation initiatives that advocates for a re-evaluation of the significance of existing vernacular structures - favoring repurposing over demolition. Holcim Awards 2023 Jury for Asia Pacific
Presenting the Holcim Awards 2023 Silver winner for Asia Pacific - Ger Plug-In 3.0.
Main Author
Director, District Development Unit
Hong Kong
Project Architect, District Development Unit
Hong Kong
Director, Energy Efficient Design Build
Mongolia
Co-Founder and Construction Manager, Energy Efficient Design Build
Mongolia
Architect, Energy Efficient Design Build
Mongolia
CEO, Ger Hub
Mongolia
The jury particularly appreciated the profound cultural significance embedded in this sustainable design project that merges modern energy-efficient principles with traditional architecture. The project’s recognition of the enduring legacy of traditional Mongolian culture, symbolized by the ger and its representation of the people’s nomadic origins, deeply impressed the panel.
The architects’ commitment to preserving cultural heritage while innovatively integrating sustainable features exemplifies a harmonious blend of tradition and progress. The architects’ innovation is noteworthy, as they adeptly navigate existing traditional building techniques to create a contemporary solution. This strategy, distinct from merely adopting modern building technologies, successfully eliminates the practice of open coal burning while presenting a contextually fitting and health-conscious housing typology for the local population. By doing so, the project takes into consideration not only the architectural and energy efficiency aspects but also the well-being of the occupants, which was considered a great asset of the project. This careful attention to comfort ensures that the inhabitants can enjoy the benefits of the energy-efficient ger house while experiencing an enhanced quality of life, truly demonstrating the architects' dedication to holistic sustainability.
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Architecture Hunter introduces the Holcim Awards 2023
Architecture Hunter introduces the Holcim Awards 2023
Holcim Awards 2023 prize announcement - Ger Plug-In 3.0
Holcim Awards 2023 prize announcement - Ger Plug-In 3.0
