The (X) house is designed to address the extreme changes in temperature that the region faces throughout the year.The project’s name refers to the funnels found within the house which channel sunlight and air from the outside in. The architects were interested in “designing the conditions as opposed to conditioning the design”, and thus sought to incorporate as many passive systems as possible. The “black lung” absorbs heat during the day and shelters the interior spaces, while the surface of the “white lung” captures and bathes the internal terraces in light. By providing a sheltered, controlled and well illuminated environment, Multiplicities hopes that they can provide a system that can adapt to the environment of Inner Mongolia. (images and information by

http://www.inhabitat.com/architecture)