An innovative apartment block in Limassol

A four-story apartment block with six apartments was designed to create a pleasant living experience while optimizing construction and maximizing material and energy savings. Two two-bedroom apartments were created on each floor for the first two floors while two different three-bedroom apartments were created on the 3rd and 4th floors.

The Structural System and Layout

A strong core with columns only on the perimeter of the building, allows flexibility in floor plan design. The compact central volume of the cube-shaped block is juxtaposed with lightweight metal structures, becoming the suspended balconies, mainly for private outdoor use. The compact block includes a high level of insulation, aiming to leave a small ecological footprint and to be economically efficient, and shadings for the edifice, and solar, power-generating panels; those were placed to maximize the building’s orientation.

Special attention was given to the floor design of the apartments, where a combination of materials unifies the spaces, disregarding the separating walls.

The ceiling of each typology was designed independently so that the functional, aesthetic, and structural needs of the building are served.

The roof is organized into a roof garden that acts as a common recreation area, through lightweight structures which are covering up the mechanical floor, adding to the building’s overall aesthetic.

Computational optimization techniques

Computational optimization techniques were applied to determine the structural system in order to minimize the impact of seismic activity. This led to a decrease in the amount of reinforcement needed for the construction, given the small cross-sections of the structural elements.

Additionally, the waffle slab system was chosen to reduce the cost for the formworks and to lessen the total weight of the reinforced concrete structure. The cantilevered balconies are hinged metal additions that don’t affect the sturdiness of the rest of the structure.