Kai House

The project, in the outskirts of Nicosia, confronts the changing face of contemporary dwelling by means of sustainable design, strategic positioning of the program and spatial flexibility.

After an orientation study, the house was placed at the back of the property to maximize natural lighting and ventilation.

As a result of this placement, the owners’ privacy was secured with a perforated wall with planters, sheltering the swimming pool and interior courtyard, and staging an experiential trail stimulating curiosity.

For flexibility, the interior is equipped with sliding wooden doors, that allow spaces to be merged or separated, according to everyday needs.

When all dividers are closed, the kitchen, the small living room and the courtyard become secluded, leaving the main living room and the dining area in a separate entity. When open, the space is integrated and accommodates the entire program of the house. This flexibility is not obvious, because all sliding doors remain hidden inside the walls.

The main living and dining room are a single space, extending to the outdoor covered porch through large openings.

Equally important is the architectural design dynamic: The building features striking diagonal volumes with wooden slats endowing the facades with a light impression.

In the back, planters create a green, protective skin for the southwestern volume.

Internal porosity, seamless continuity with the gardens, the inclusion of indoor green spaces and material and volumetric simplicity are the main design features. All the interior charm lies in the details, lighting, harmony, and continuity between materials from indoors to outdoors.

The material palette is simple and timeless. Bare concrete on the walls and floors, grey hues, white surfaces, and wooden elements.

Oversize openings with dark frames and metal details add a dynamic, balancing the other materials and textures.

Vegetation is found in indoor gardens and architectural elements that can receive crawling plants, adding a new identity with the course of time.

ΕΚΚΥ Studio Architects