A compact cubic residence in Kanoni uses recesses, courtyards and carefully positioned openings to mediate between domestic privacy, planting and the heterogeneous urban fabric of Corfu.

The Habitus Project by Thymi Architects is located in Kanoni, Corfu, within a transitional area between the urban and suburban fabric. Rather than seeking a formal reference in the heterogeneous architecture of the surrounding neighbourhood, the residence develops its relationship with the context through controlled views, planted setbacks and a sequence of intermediate spaces.

The house is conceived as a compact volume in which voids and openings acquire a defining role. Its architecture does not rely on direct visual exposure towards the surroundings. Instead, different depths, frames and thresholds establish a selective relationship between interior spaces, garden and neighbourhood.

 

Subtraction from a compact volume

The architectural composition develops through a process of subtraction from an initially cubic mass. Recesses, voids and openings articulate the otherwise restrained form and determine relationships between different parts of the house.

The openings vary according to orientation, programme and the degree of exposure required. Deep apertures frame specific views towards the neighbourhood and landscape, while narrower vertical cuts introduce controlled daylight. Elsewhere, larger openings reinforce continuity between the living spaces and the garden.

On the principal façade, the recessed ground floor creates a protected entrance threshold and adds depth to the elevation. On the upper level, another subtraction forms an internal courtyard, introducing daylight, vegetation and an outdoor area within the compact volume.

The result is a façade shaped less through applied elements than through shadow, depth and the changing relationship between solid and void.

 

Planted setbacks as part of the house

The mandatory distances between the building and the boundaries of the plot are incorporated into the architectural composition rather than treated as residual strips of land.

Planting establishes a first layer of separation from the street and adjacent buildings. Boundaries, vegetation and openings work together to maintain contact with the neighbourhood while moderating visibility and protecting the privacy of the interior.

This strategy allows the residence to retain a degree of inwardness without becoming isolated. The surrounding urban fabric remains present, but is repeatedly selected, concealed or framed through architecture and landscape.

 

Living spaces connected with the garden

The residence develops across three levels. The principal domestic spaces occupy the ground and upper floors, while ancillary functions are accommodated in the basement.

On the ground floor, kitchen, dining and living areas form a continuous space in direct relationship with the garden. Although visually connected, the different functions maintain their individual character through the arrangement of fixed elements and changes in material treatment.

The staircase occupies the core of the composition. More than a means of vertical circulation, it establishes visual relationships between the levels and contributes to the spatial continuity of the house.

The design therefore extends connection not only horizontally towards the garden, but also vertically through the interior.

 

An internal courtyard for the private level

On the upper floor, the main bedroom and ancillary functions are arranged around the internal courtyard.

The courtyard operates simultaneously as a source of natural light, a planted outdoor space and a means of maintaining privacy. Rather than opening the private rooms directly towards the surrounding buildings, it creates a protected external environment within the volume itself.

This inward-facing landscape is balanced by selected views towards the wider context. The house continually alternates between openness and enclosure, using each opening to establish a specific degree of visual connection.

 

A restrained material palette

The material approach follows the same principle of restraint that governs the spatial composition. A limited number of materials recur throughout the residence and help define its different zones.

Timber wall linings and integrated storage elements establish continuity across the interiors and give functional definition to the open living areas. Dark metal window frames emphasize the depth and precision of the apertures, reinforcing their character as cuts within the compact building mass.

A continuous cement-based finish creates visually uninterrupted surfaces, while marble is introduced selectively in floors, steps and individual details.

The limited palette allows changes in daylight and shadow to remain clearly perceptible. Material surfaces operate as a background against which the geometry of the openings and the movement of natural light become more prominent.

 

Framing the suburban context

The Habitus Project responds to the heterogeneous character of its surroundings without adopting the forms of the neighbouring buildings.

Instead, architecture becomes a means of regulating the relationship with the context. Voids, boundaries, planting and openings determine what remains visible, what is protected and how the transition from private interior to neighbourhood is experienced.

Through this system, the house maintains both connection and distance. The changing daylight, planted areas and selected views of the surrounding fabric become part of everyday domestic life, while the compact volume preserves a clear sense of privacy.

Exposed concrete cantilevers, vertical timber surfaces and a glazed internal courtyard establish a continuous relationship between the living spaces, garden and pool.

S29 Residence in Strovolos by EKKY Studio Architects combines solid architectural volumes with transparent and planted elements. Horizontal and vertical components intersect throughout the composition, producing changing relationships between enclosure, openness and the surrounding garden.

The street-facing form is interrupted by a glazed volume recessed on the upper floor. Along the western elevation, two exposed-concrete cantilevers embrace the principal building mass, which is articulated with vertical timber surfaces. Aluminium, concrete and timber continue across the exterior, establishing a deliberately limited material vocabulary.

 

 

Solid volumes and transparency

The composition develops through the contrast between the weight of the concrete elements and the lighter character of glass and timber.

The western cantilevers extend horizontally beyond the principal volume, reinforcing the direction of the house towards its outdoor areas. In contrast, the vertical timber treatment emphasizes the enclosed central mass.

The recessed glazed element on the upper level introduces another degree of transparency. Rather than treating the façades as uniform surfaces, the design alternates between solid, transparent and textured sections.

This interplay gives the building a changing appearance according to viewpoint. At the same time, it establishes a clear distinction between the protective architectural envelope and the areas that open towards the landscape.

 

An L-shaped living sequence

Inside, the principal spaces of everyday life are organized within an open-plan L-shaped arrangement.

The sitting and dining areas occupy the entrance zone and maintain direct contact with the courtyard, swimming pool and surrounding outdoor spaces. Their position establishes an immediate visual relationship with the exterior rather than directing movement towards an enclosed internal core.

A second dining area, the kitchen and a semi-outdoor dining space with barbecue follow in sequence. The different functions remain distinct, yet their linear relationship allows everyday activities to extend gradually from the interior towards the garden.

The arrangement avoids a rigid separation between formal and informal living. Instead, the interconnected spaces support different patterns of gathering while maintaining continuity across the ground floor.

 

 

A planted courtyard at the centre

A glazed internal courtyard becomes one of the defining elements of the residence.

Enclosed by transparent surfaces, it contains a planted wall that extends towards the staircase. Vegetation is therefore introduced into the centre of the plan rather than confined to the perimeter of the building.

The courtyard establishes visual contact with nature from several internal positions. At the same time, its enclosed character creates a more introspective landscape within the otherwise open living sequence.

The planted wall softens the surrounding mineral surfaces and introduces changes in texture, shadow and colour. It also creates a quieter spatial interval between the more active shared areas of the house.

 

Continuity across the threshold

A large corner opening reinforces the connection among the different living spaces and their exterior extensions.

Travertine flooring continues across the principal areas, creating a restrained, unified background and reducing the visual distinction between inside and outside. The repeated surface strengthens the perception of the ground floor as a continuous environment rather than a collection of separate rooms.

Grey marble, exposed concrete and timber complete the material palette. Their different textures balance the overall neutrality of the interior, while discreet lighting and restrained furniture allow the architectural elements to remain dominant.

The project ultimately develops around a measured dialogue between mass and transparency. Concrete defines and protects the residence, timber introduces texture and warmth, while glazing, the planted courtyard and the continuous floor establish a close relationship with the outdoor spaces.

 

The project was first published in print in ek magazine 290 | September 2024, a monthly issue by ek Architectural Publications.

Located in São Paulo, MAS House is the result of a complete remodeling by SUITE Arquitetos, conceived with spatial integration as its starting point and materiality as a structuring element.

The residence was reorganized around the family’s daily life, strengthening spatial continuity and the relationship between interior and exterior. Throughout the house, light, materials and furniture work together to create a calm and coherent living environment.

The Living Area as the Center of the House

At the center of the residence, the living area organizes the social program, bringing the sitting room, dining room, kitchen and outdoor space into the same spatial field.

Conceived as a versatile environment, it accommodates different forms of use, from everyday family life to quieter moments, always oriented toward the garden. Large openings expand the sense of space and make natural light an active component of the architecture, changing the atmosphere of the interiors throughout the day.

The outdoor area is therefore present from the main living spaces rather than treated as a separate part of the house. The garden becomes a constant visual reference and reinforces the continuity between domestic life and the surrounding landscape.

 

 

Material Continuity and Furniture

Materiality defines the identity of the project. Brushed Brazilian travertine establishes a continuous base across the social area, while cabinetry in dehydrated oak veneer extends through the interiors and reinforces the unity of the composition.

Woodstone quartzite, integrated into niches and the dining-room cabinetry, introduces texture and depth. Together with fabrics, smooth surfaces and carefully distributed lighting, the material palette creates a subtly golden atmosphere without visual excess.

Furniture operates as an extension of the architecture. In the living room, the side table and the lamp establish a balance between form and materiality.

The sofa was redesigned specifically for the project. Its straighter and more pronounced lines give it a central role in the composition and reinforce the project’s custom-designed character.

 

 

Private Rooms and the Garden

In the private areas, material continuity and chromatic neutrality create a quieter atmosphere. The primary suite combines woven textures, fabrics and timber flooring, with direct access to a balcony that re-establishes the connection with the exterior.

In the powder room, marble is used on the wall panel and for the sculpted basin with a honed finish. Diffuse lighting emphasizes the texture of the stone without dominating the space.

Outside, dense landscaping surrounds the pool and creates a private setting removed from the pace of the city. Furniture with simple lines and durable materials supports continuous everyday use.

Through the relationship between spatial integration, natural light and material continuity, MAS House proposes a fluid way of living in which the interior, garden, furniture and daily routines form part of the same domestic environment.

Introverted courtyard

The house is located in a suburban area of Nicosia and was designed to establish a strong connection between indoor and outdoor living, drawing references from the urban Cypriot houses of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

 

Spatial Organization

This contemporary approach reinterprets the courtyard as the living core of the residence. The main spaces – living room, dining area, kitchen and two bedrooms – are arranged in an L-shaped layout around a central courtyard. At the heart of the composition, an elongated water element, the pool, acts as a natural extension of the living space.

The presence of water enhances the dialogue between inside and outside, while also contributing significantly to the formation of a favorable microclimate, providing natural cooling during the summer months. The courtyard thus becomes an intermediate space of everyday life, where the boundaries between private and open-air environments are softened.

 

 

Material Palette

The architectural proposal follows a strict minimalist logic, emphasizing geometric clarity and the elimination of any superfluous elements. The volumes are defined by clean lines, while the composition is structured around the balance between solid and void.

Exposed concrete is the dominant material, selected for both its structural properties and its restrained aesthetic. This unified materiality ensures coherence and durability, while the clean surfaces act as a canvas for the interplay of natural light and shifting shadows throughout the day.

 

 

Bioclimatic Strategy

The design carefully utilizes orientation and cross-ventilation to ensure optimal airflow and natural lighting. At the same time, the introverted organization of the residence guarantees a high level of privacy, in contrast to the surrounding urban context.

The result is a residence that engages with local architectural heritage, translating it into a contemporary language. Through the synthesis of space, material and climate, the project responds to current needs for quality of life, flexibility and a meaningful connection with the natural environment.