Ai Weiwei, artist and activist, has dabbled in architecture more than once in his career. From his Bird's Nest collaboration with Herzog & de Meuron to his work on the Jinhua Architecture Park, Weiwei's interests in architecture would eventually draw him towards a residential project. Located in Ancram, NY, the home's first owner had built it as a vacation retreat for Chinese-American businessman and renowned art collector, Christopher Tsai.
Weiwei collaborated with the Swiss architecture firm HHF to design the art enthusiasts getaway home. Built on 37.5 acres, the house comprises a large main house consisting of 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. The main house is a connection of cube-like sections equaling to 3,700 square feet. In addition to the main house, Weiwei designed an additional guest house with a timber structure and corrugated steel facade with a rusted patina. The Y-shaped guest house contrasts the main house's corrugated metal-clad exterior along the property's green landscape.
The home's listing agent Graham Kleem shared with the press that the initial owners of the house "loved his art and loved him so much, they commissioned him to design this house." The home eventually changed ownership in 2013 for a whopping $4.25M. Now on the market once again, the minimalist house with its ample space and luxurious interiors is an example of "livable art," according to Klemm.
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