House 1607

The house, in the outskirts of Nicosia, is built in a relatively large plot, at the corner of a busy street and a small dead-end, which provides the most convenient access to the property.

The simple, balanced architecture of the house is consistent with the way of approaching the building: The entrance is placed at street level; from there, in-between the two main volumes, one reaches the courtyard and then, the house. The functional arrangement and distribution of movement is correlated to the form and geometry of the building. The shape is a product of the program, making it visible. As a result, internal circulation is easily perceptible.

From the entrance gate, a flight of steps following the ground inclination leads to the main house level and to the garden. Two volumes on the left and right of the steps contain the kitchen and living room.

The volumes, occupying the north and south orientations, frame the sheltered patio in-between them and are connected on the level above the entrance space. An internal staircase from the kitchen leads to the floor, housing the bedrooms and office, all looking over the shared spaces on ground level. The gallery on the floor looks outside and brings eastern light to the rooms.

The raised level creates a sheltered patio and protects the shared indoor spaces from the western sun. Glazing is inclined on both sides, facilitating natural heating from the south during the winter months. The bedrooms are oriented to the west, with external shades on all windows, remaining at once protected from the intense summer sun and cross-ventilated.

Simpraxis Architects