The post Minthis Spa in Paphos by Woods Bagot was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

Transparent dome

On the northeastern edge of the University of Cyprus campus in Nicosia, an artificial hill rises from the terrain, completing the natural landscape shaped by Aronas Hill and the Kalogeros river. Seamlessly integrated into its surroundings, it appears less as an intervention and more as a quiet geological inevitability – an architectural gesture that feels as though it has always belonged there.

Design Philosophy

Beneath this constructed topography lie the Information Center and the Library of the University of Cyprus, named after Stelios Ioannou in recognition of the decisive donation by his widow, Ellie Ioannou, which set the long-envisioned project into motion. What emerges is not merely a repository of knowledge, but a landmark that redefines the relationship between architecture and landscape.

Designed by Pritzker Prize laureate Jean Nouvel, the complex embodies the French architect’s enduring preoccupation with light, materiality and contextual integration. Rather than imposing a monumental object onto the campus, Nouvel conceived a 15,700 m² structure that dissolves into the earth. The building unfolds across five levels, two of which are embedded underground, while the remaining three are contained within the 40-metre-wide artificial hill.

Custom Structure

The dome-like membrane that envelops the structure is rendered in an abstract composition of natural hues, reinforcing its dialogue with the Cypriot terrain. Transparent yet technologically advanced, the envelope allows daylight to penetrate deep into the interior while incorporating sophisticated solar protection systems that enhance the building’s bioclimatic performance. The result is an architecture that is both visually restrained and environmentally responsive.

A pivotal element of this strategy is the heliostat: a 24-metre-high, five-metre-thick conical structure clad in louvers. Acting as a light-harvesting device, it captures and redirects sunlight into the heart of the building, channeling it even to the lowest levels. This sculptural mechanism not only reinforces the project’s environmental agenda but also dramatizes the interior spatial experience.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the reading room at ground level. Arranged around the perimeter of a central atrium, 31 glazed study cubes function as intimate enclaves within the larger collective space. Bathed in filtered daylight, they form a rhythmic constellation of transparent volumes – quiet sanctuaries for concentration within an open, communal setting.

Context Integration

The building has quickly assumed the status of an architectural reference point in Cyprus, particularly for younger generations. Its planted landscape alternative – the constructed hill rather than a conventional green roof – demonstrates a deliberate departure from predictable sustainable tropes. Instead, the project proposes a more immersive integration of architecture and site, where enclosure, terrain and climate operate as a unified system.

As an institution, the library houses an extensive collection spanning the full spectrum of scientific knowledge, including approximately 600,000 volumes, 40,000 digital titles and 10,000 audiovisual items. It stands as a contemporary ark of knowledge – both protective and open – where physical and digital media coexist within a spatial framework defined by light and earth.

The interior further reflects the Ioannou family’s longstanding engagement with art. Significant works tracing the historical continuum of Cyprus are displayed alongside pieces by contemporary Cypriot artists, embedding cultural memory within the architectural narrative. In this synthesis of landscape, technology, knowledge and art, the Stelios Ioannou Library transcends its institutional function, positioning itself as a spatial manifesto for learning in the Mediterranean context.

The post University of Cyprus Library was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The post Private Residence in Nicosia was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

Eleftherias Street is one of the oldest thoroughfares in the historic center of Limassol, with a past of great commercial activity, combining residential and commercial buildings from the mid-19th century, with influences from British colonialism up until the mid-20th century, when modernism had already exerted its influence on local architecture.

In the late 80’s, with the city developing towards the east, the area declined, several of the buildings were abandoned, and their use was limited almost entirely to craft. Following the recent completion of the marina, the area is regaining attention, and many buildings of architectural and historical interest have been restored.

One of the buildings, that is clearly influenced by the modernism of the 40’s, is the two-storey building with a triangular plan, which is located at the intersection of Eleftherias and Aphrodites streets. Aphrodites street, on the south side of the building, had served as the thoroughfare of the Turkish Cypriot quarter, a borderline between Christian and Muslim elements. The restoration of this building, and the conversion of its ground floor into a concept store, has been undertaken by the architectural office Arcube Studio by Panayiotis Stelikos.

In terms of morphology, the visible linear structural elements, made of reinforced concrete with large windows and skylights, clearly indicate the influences of modernism on the ground floor. On the other hand, the limited openings on the first floor, the wooden windows with shutters, but mainly the wooden roof, refer to 19th-century architecture. The perimetrical balcony, which is an extension of the ground floor slab, not only functions as a planar structural element that separates the two floors, but also as a boundary between the two architectural periods.

The Melting Pot is an exhibition space where design appreciators may also enjoy selected music, specialty coffee, quality cocktails and hand picked dishes. This idea emerged from the necessity of an empirical presentation of RIZA, the new furniture brand launched by Panayiotis Stelikos.

The main referential point for the configuration of the fixed elements and the spatial assignment of the functions of the interior area is the perimeter of the building, which consists of two linear sections that converge in a circular arc. The design of the bar relies on this form, a floating concrete volume with references to futurism, in light terracotta color from a combination of pigments that has been created especially for the venue. At points it resembles a rock in the desert and at other points an aircraft from the future. It has been placed centrally, around the central column, as an offset of the perimeter inwards. This central placement brings the beverage production process to the forefront, while allowing a circular movement between the production area and the seats.

The scale has also been utilized in the case of the bar, with its net height kept as low as possible, so that its relationship with the distance to the ceiling, makes the space more impressive. Smaller volumes of the same material, the Kaivu, are found in the perimeter of the space, serving as stands for exhibits, as seats and as tables.

Light terracotta color, in a different shade, is found on the fabrics used as upholstery, on the Porana sofa, and on the cushions of chairs and of armchairs.

The brown and gray shades, applied to the structural elements, the window facades and the flowerbeds, connect the building externally with the Cypriot urban landscape, while the gray of the external steps, that extends to the inner floor, acts as a material connecting the exterior with the interior. The integration of the interior with the exterior and with the immediate urban environment, is achieved organically through a total of five doors, two on each side and one in the circular arch of the space. In such an asymmetrical floor plan, each of these five doors makes a distinctive impression.

For instance, entering through the main door creates a sense of a space that is firm and impressive, dominated by white and with considerable height, whereas anyone entering from either of the north entrances, will face the light terracotta of the bar and the climbing plants further inside, which create a sense of familiarity of an urban courtyard.

The white of the interior walls and of the high ceiling is also found in a glossy texture in many of the furniture, and more prominently in the perforated stands with the steel frames, formed by polygonal chains of straight sections and circular arches, that start from the floor and end at the ceiling.

The tall, frameless doorway leading to the auxiliary spaces is integrated with the wall with its handle following the logic of the linear metal frames. The space’s open plan, combined with the large windows, allows for the light to diffuse abundantly, while the existing steel meshes on the south side, utilized for the climbing plants, create unique shadows during the morning hours.

The logic of alternating between the transparency of the white exhibition stands, that opposes the monolithicity of the Kaivu, is also applied to the movable furniture, such as the steel chairs Anjo and Velma, combined with the Tukai seats. The white Uyuni dining set is an ideal combination of the monolithic nature of the concrete and the transparency achieved by the detachment of the table top and the stool seat from the steel base respectively. The Miyoshi armchair, embracing all the properties of the design principle, is bulky and elegant, thin as a sheet of folded paper, heavy and suspended.

The design principle of the movable furniture matches with that of the entire space, that is, the alternation between textures, colors and volumes, with minimal lines and the earthy color palette being a common attribute.

The color palette is comprised by colors of the Cypriot urban and natural landscape, in tones and textures that oftentimes refer to Scandinavia or to Korean minimalism. The green element, which also renders the space more earthy, encloses the building on the outside, while on the inside, succulents are suspended from the ceiling. The artificial lighting is mainly hidden, and is used more as a background element of the night scene, emphasizing the space’s basic structural elements.

The post The Melting Pot was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The 1700m² hotel is in the center of Nicosia, with a beautiful view over Eleftherias Square and the old city walls. The building had been one of the prominent landmarks in the city. The project involves the extension and modification of the existing building, creating an integrated façade and assigning a new identity. The outside surface of the double-layer façade features vertical louvers with a simple geometry and proportioning, resulting in an interesting volume which safeguards privacy without compromising views from the inside. The base of the building, accommodating a double-height lobby and the restaurant, is marked by linear lighting and repetitive vertical elements, emulating the outside façade and the room interiors. On the floors, the hotel comprises 30 rooms, in thematic units. Black and white tones, combined with vibrant colors on furniture upholsteries, textured floors and wooden claddings, result in an overall feel of elegance.

EKKY Studio Architects

Creative Photo Room

262 | November 2021

The post Map Boutique Hotel was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

Contemporary Architectural Modernism

The design of this residence in Limassol features modernistic archetypes; the minimalist morphology distinguishes its pure architectural features, resulting in a building without superficial decoration.

Architectural Composition and Bioclimatic Features

The composition of two basic volumes, identified by their function and material – white color for the communal spaces, exposed concrete for the private spaces- constitutes the main idea of ​​the project. An important part of the composition is the creation of a small atrium on the ground floor, which improves the natural lighting conditions of the communal spaces and improves natural cross-ventilation. Concurrently, the first-floor volume is projected at the southeastern side, creating a covered outdoor area, and providing sun protection. Finally, the bioclimatic elements used in the design of this house, led to its classification as a nearly zero-energy building (nZEB).

Vassiliades Architects

Giorgos Charalambous Photography

The post Modernistic Archetypes was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

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.

Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice

Creative Photo Room

The post ZIO Apartment Block in Limassol was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

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

The post House 1607 was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

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

The post Kai House was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The jewelry is in a central location in Nicosia, at Strovolos. The objective of the redesign was to merge three little shops into an integrated space, catering to the needs of the store.

The design creates a modern, timeless, functional exhibition space for jewels, informed by museum exhibition design in their placement and lighting; it also confronts the need of highlighting the company legacy, where architecture remains consistent with high-end jewelry design.

The guiding design idea elaborates on the reflections in the faceted surfaces of a diamond, materialized as recesses or protractions in space -horizontal and vertical on the facades and surfaces; those fundamental lines succeed in integrating volumes, facades, interiors, and materials. The material palette alludes to the first jewelry established by Mr. Michalis Evdokimou in 1968, in the narrow lanes of Strovolos.

The color palette relies on dark shades combined with the hues of gold, the latter being used in linear, floating elements that create balanced contrasts with their glow, as highlights in the intentionally dark space.

The lighting design creates a dramatic atmosphere, with exhibition lights on the display stands and low ambient lighting.

Upon entry, the central display stand immediately becomes the spine of the store, accommodating diamond creations, leading to the customer service and jewelry display section that leads to an area for having coffee with the jewelry staff.

A minimal dimension space, alluding to a museum shop, is used for private viewings of selected pieces, maintaining visibility with the rest of the store through a specially designed golden perforated screen.

AcA Architects – Renos Constantinou

The post Evdokimou Jewellery was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The 300m² double-story house is designed for a family of four; the privileged position of the property, with uninterrupted south views of Limassol’s waterfront, solicited the wish for all spaces to enjoy the sea view.

The design was established as a play of two volumes, one white and one in bare reinforced concrete with visible formwork. The white, double-story volume penetrates the other perpendicularly. The concrete volume extends along the entire length of the property, and the white one accommodates the main program of the ground floor and first level, keeping the required distances from the property limits. Their intersection is marked with the use of vertical wooden shades. The concrete volume, extended, dissolves into vertical elements, to provide the courtyard with privacy and protection from the western winds.

The ample lounge and dining area are joined in the same open space on the ground level, while the kitchen and living room are separated with a sliding glass door. Visitor access crosses through an upward trail to the main entrance and is demarcated by vertical concrete elements that turn towards an enclosed garden.

At night, the trail is animated with lighting, leading to the house. The living room and kitchen are connected to the outside through a covered terrace, equipped with barbecue and a dining bench. The integrated lounge and dining room area extends outdoors through the large corner opening, consistent with the wish of the owners for seamless communication between all spaces.

The first level houses four bedrooms, in-suite with bathrooms for complete independence. The master bedroom is located on the southwestern part of the volume and includes a dressing room, bathroom, and a large porch. The bedrooms of the two children are placed int the “heart” of the floor, intercepted with two bathrooms for better sound insulation. The guest bedroom is in a recess at the southeastern end of the house. All rooms enjoy the Limassol sea view and are connected through a long, continuous balcony opposite the southern view.

Marinos Marinou Architects

The post A Play of Parallel Volumes was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The building is located in a central residential district of Limassol; it extends on three levels and includes seven apartments, six out of which are one-bedroom studios and the seventh is a three-bedroom condo on the last floor.

The distribution of the residential units follows a conventional typology, with all the apartments placed on the floors, allowing the creation of an enclosed pilotis on the ground level, accommodating all shared and secondary uses in a free-form plan. The circulation core is centrally placed, reducing the circulation surface and increasing the layout of the units. Parking space is provided underground.

The main design principle is the segmentation of the building mass in four smaller volumes, subtracting vertical slices from all four sides of the initial envelope. This way, the building de-escalates and adapts to the scale of its vicinity, reducing ground cover and facilitating natural lighting and ventilation of the central circulation core. Employing an integrated architectural vocabulary, all four volumes are raised and juxtaposed, creating a perpetual conversation of solids and voids in-between.

The building shell is designed independent from the loadbearing structure, providing the opportunity of free development for the apartment interiors. The outside shades, beside their main function, further become an abstract mechanism in the design of the outer envelope. Attached in places beyond the obvious, they confound the relation between the floors and their included programs, reinforcing the geometric, monolithic features of the volumes and creating an ambiguity concerning the building scale and use.

The building acquires high energy efficiency, mostly by employing passive means. The folding shades allow natural lighting and protect the spaces from solar overheating, both indoors and at the outdoor covered areas. Combined with a properly heat-insulated shell, living conditions are flexible and adaptable to seasonal change, according to the time of the day and to the needs of the tenants. Planted surfaces on the ground floor slab cover 25% of the property in local shrubs, reducing the building’s thermal mass. Two planted ground inclinations penetrate the ground floor and basement, allowing natural lighting and ventilation in the underground spaces.

 Sofronis Marcou Architects

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Sofronis Marcou

The post Apartment Building in Limassol was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

Transforming an abandoned industrial building from the 1960s to a state-of-the-art gym, provided the opportunity for Cyprus-based ADP Architecture Design Practice to pay tribute to the building’s heritage and maintain elements from its past. The main building has been restored to encompass all the activities and needs of the gym such as areas for free-weights and weight equipment, an MMA cage, and Martial Arts area. Concurrently, the mezzanine hosts supporting functions and the old annex is reconnected to the main building to provide space for changing rooms and lavatories.

The front façade has been completely reimagined, half escaping the concrete envelope and providing the illusion of a solid corten block when approaching from the west and the other half is dominated by a curtain wall that opens visibility between the public busy street and the gym’s main space.

While the roof has been replaced, the new metal structure follows the original wooden beams and a secondary support system allows the exposed services to suspend mid-air. A tailored lighting plan signposts circulation and activity zones with emphasis placed in the elevated cage area aiming to showcase the protagonists of the fight.

Completing an adaptive reuse project is a challenge on its own. Even more so, when the project requires a speedy construction time of only four months, taking place during a global pandemic with restrictions in factories and construction sites imposed. The excellent communication between the design and construction teams and use of BIM systems to coordinate information has been instrumental in achieving the complex construction of the exposed services in a matter of weeks as well as dealing with an existing structure of the 60s.

Lelita Ioannidou, Director at ADP Architecture Design Practice comments: “We are extremely excited to play our part in the revitalisation of the industrial area of Egkomi and as strong advocates of reuse and we hope that this project inspires a wider adaptation of local industrial heritage.”

The post Molon Labe Gym by ADP Architecture Design Practice was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The design philosophy centers around free movement in space. Fluidity and drift, combined with the free interaction of the walking visitor with various hosted activities, aim towards an enhanced spatial experience. As the movement of the visitors largely unfolds within an urban setting, the proposal removes this image through free drift in space.

The aim of the study is the upgrade of the locations, with increased greenery and new, added uses; creating proper infrastructures that will cater to the needs of residents and visitors alike, may also attract tourist interest, with a variety of thematic activities. The latter will be coordinated with the landscape design of the area at large, creating green spaces, event and entertainment venues, as well as spaces for quiet isolation.

The main entrance leads the visitor to a “river” of activities crossing through the length of the site, providing a variety of options. Through this green trail, one explores and discovers space, perceiving the park through free movement within. Greenery frames the space, erasing the boundaries of a conventional walking trail. On the contrary, a free, open space unfolds, combining different stimuli.

A game between the urban and the natural landscape is established, and transitions are optimized. The open space is equipped with moveable elements, to accommodate open-air uses. Urban furniture is freely distributed in space, creating places of rest, while vegetal strips enhance this trajectory with aromatic plants, shrubs, and trees, creating an immersive experience. Lush vegetation on the sides of the trail creates a filter between city and nature.

Polys Thoma,
Eleftherios Vomvolakis

The post Salina Municipal Park was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The house has a square layout, demarcated by a wall than encloses all indoor spaces and their adjacent four gardens. Historical travel records of Nicosia, dating as far back as the 14^th century, mention the garden as a space protected inside a walled enclosure, containing ornamental and edible plants, offering scents and sounds; the garden has been a contributing factor to the historical identity of Nicosia, at times including cisterns, fountains, open-air kitchens, wells, or steam baths. The gardens of the house, adjoining different programmatic units, cater to daily, practical necessities, such as the control of sunlight, temperature, and air flow. Special attention has been put on the passive heating and cooling of the house. The construction materials are selected from local light industries; some are left exposed, while part of the finishing is carried out on site, as is the case for the flooring. All case furniture and some moveable pieces are custom-designed by the architects, while the rest are hand-made from local artisans in Nicosia.

Draftworks Architects

The post Best of 2020: Four Gardens was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

In contrast to many urban homes that remain hidden behind high walls and green fences, the “house-garden” is an extension of its adjacent green public space, and part of the urban fabric. The connection between house, public space, and neighborhood allows all three elements to be perceived as a compact whole, in perpetual interaction. The principal design concept was the development of gardens, both on the ground level as well as on the floor, as an accessible green roof. The two-storey home is articulated in two monolithic volumes, containing a green patio. The ground level accommodates the shared spaces, and the floor houses two bedrooms. On the top level, facades are formed in sliding aluminum panels for sound insulation, controlled light, and protection from solar radiation during the summer months. Sustainable design relies on discreet solar paneling, on the chimney effect through the green internal patio, and natural ventilation through the north-south axis. The project has been awarded with the Cyprus State Prize for Architecture, 2019.

Christos Pavlou

The post Best of 2020: The House-garden in the City was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

A local developer and owner of a unique piece of land in Yeroskipou, Pafos, Cyprus, invited the architects to participate in a competition for designing and developing an outstanding residential resort for locals and tourists. The project has been set to become a new hyper luxury Tourist Residential Resort for area’s tourism.   

Set in a plot right next to the sea, the project pursues environmental standards of sustainability in an effort to preserve the region’s stunning and picturesque landscape. Additionally, it has been designed to blend itself effortlessly and smoothly into the beautiful natural landscape of sown and reaped fields.

The masterplan has been visioned to become a special enterprise zone. Beyond hyper-luxury accommodations, it includes exclusive facilities for the residents as well as external visitors. This project seeks not only to complement the existing touristic facilities of Kato Pafos but to upgrade the services, offering a new unique paradigm establishing a new financial model.

The proposal is respectful of the environmental sensitivity of the region, taking a “green” approach that will have the least detrimental impact on the wonderful landscape of the area. Using sustainable materials, the idea is to carry out most of the disruptive construction work in off-site and allow greater control in factory conditions.

The proposed Resort is in a plot of 5844m² south-east of Pafos, with stunning views of the rising and setting sun, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea to the south-west. Formed of 10 residential buildings positioned at the edges of a triangular arrangement to ensure maximum visibility to the sea and all looking towards the heart of the development, the Club House, the Resort is defined by its materiality and structure.

Each 2-storey block consists of two parallel vertical white walls which support an upper lightweight structure, forming a two-bedroom family at the ground floor level and a one-bedroom hyper-luxury residence at the first-floor level.

The opposite edge of triangles peak point is marked by the neat and contemporary volume of the Club House consisting of a double height fine-dining restaurant and a vibrant roof-top bar with views out to the sea as well as an underground luxury spa for relaxing and recovering.

Using textured, earthy tones the resort is made predominantly from timber and streel structure, reducing the concrete walls and its embodied carbons. The buildings propose a lightweight structural frame construction along with a minimal precast foundation, minimizing the impact on site. Louvers along with screens and solid facades mitigate the low strong sun during summer season while they offer privacy, keeping though the architectural lightness of the elements.        

The Masterplan’s vision explores the balance of landscape and built area to achieve the ideal luxury tourist resort. Our vision sources its inspiration by the surroundings, low and high vegetation, goldy fields and the long coastline with the sandy linear beach.

AYK Associates Architects

The post Tourist Residential Resort in Cyprus was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The 340m² private house in the outskirts of greater Nicosia was designed to feature contemporary aesthetics, acquiring permanence with the use of timeless materials. Concurrently, the house caters to the needs of a family of four, facilitating communication and comfort.

The building’s placement enhances natural ventilation and lighting, and large openings add to the connection between inside and out.

The architect Renos Constantinou chooses to bestow the house with identity, alluding to the owners’ names: Paris and Helen. Mythology provides inspiration for designing a contemporary “Trojan” home, the “Villa Troy”.

The choice of stone cladding on a loadbearing wall on the façade, as well as on the enclosure at the back of the property, hints at the walls of Troy.

Metal, applied in many components, is another significant material from that time: the façade features five ornamental brackets whose angular form alludes to the trojan war spears; The original metal door and the vertical metal railings shape the home enclosure.

Living spaces, arranged in an irregular L-shape, are placed amidst a cluster of outdoor areas, including verandas and a garden.

The open-plan ground level accommodates the lounge, the living and dining rooms. The double-height void at the vestibule becomes the core around which those three integrated parts of the house develop.

The fireplace, dominating the ground level, functions as divider at the limit between the vestibule, living room, and dining area. Its glass enclosure on three sides allows the hearth to be visible from all adjacent spaces.

The base of the fireplace is clad in ceramic tiles emulating fair-face concrete; this material also dresses the dining room wall, featuring the portrait paintings of Paris and Helen. The fair-face concrete ceramic pairs well with the floor tiling, emulating Calacatta marble. This material covers the entire ground floor of the house, assigning luxury and elegance.

ACA Architects

Renos Constantinou

The post Villa Troy was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The design of the headquarters for a Nicosia-based international software development company has as driving concept the construction of a building levitating over an open plaza; this space has the potential to become the condenser of all social aspects in the composition. Therefore, from the outset, the program prescribed the office development above ground level, and the latter was designed as the most public element in the project.

This public level accommodates the amphitheater, cafeteria, gym, outdoor relaxation spaces and swimming pool, with the parking exclusively underground. The ground level is lifted to create a socle, accessible from steps or from a ramp. The change in level of the plaza and the support of the building upon pillars, allows unobstructed views through the entire depth of the property. The coexistence of public, communal spaces on this level creates a container of life, enhancing the communal feeling in the framework of the building.

In the interior, office spaces are open and flexible, with varying degrees of privacy secured through panels whose transparency ranges from absolute opacity to absolute visibility. Moreover, all spaces enjoy natural light and ventilation and the atrium functions beneficially for the internal perimeter of the offices, as a source of light and fresh air. The building skin is organized through a system of vertically oriented shades and aluminum screens, facilitating or obstructing visibility according to the onlookers’ angle of view.

The structural system involves concrete slabs upon columns. The interior floors rest upon those supports, as well as upon closed “boxes” clad in mirrors, containing the indoor staircases and service areas. The reflection of the surroundings upon those two “supporting plinths” creates the impression of a black box levitating on top.

All interior finishes display reinforced concrete in different treatments, stainless steel and black-coated aluminum; the high ceilings leave mechanical and electrical equipment exposed as a spectacle.

The 3CX office building was a candidate at the European Union Prize of Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award 2019.

Michael Seroff, Soteris Papadopoulos

Creative Photo Room

ek magazine #236 April 2019

The post 3CX was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.