Simple language

The project is situated on a narrow rectangular plot, within a new residential neighbourhood on the outskirts of Nicosia. The surrounding buildings adopt diverse architectural styles, providing a context that allowed the house to develop its own minimalist architectural language.

 

Design Philosophy

The house is organized under a table-like structure, oriented toward the street with a restrained façade, and elevated from street level. The southern portion of the plot was used for the garden. The building follows a rectangular grid of 12×24 meters, with a perimeter canopy of exposed concrete providing shading and protection. On the southern side, a 4-meter cantilever creates a generous veranda supported by a cylindrical column.

 

 

Functional Layout

The internal layout is divided into two zones: the west zone, where bedrooms enjoy the evening summer breeze, and the east zone, where living areas open to the surrounding greenery. Large openings connect the interior visually to the garden, offering continuity and daylight. A 17-meter exposed concrete wall runs the length of the house, separating the zones while maintaining a visual axis to the garden.

 

 

Material Palette

The restrained architecture is expressed through carefully selected materials: large ceramic tiles in communal spaces, wooden floors in bedrooms, exposed concrete walls and soffits, and white plaster on vertical surfaces. Doors, cabinetry, and kitchen fittings were crafted in oak, introducing warmth and a domestic atmosphere.

The garden is planted exclusively with Mediterranean vegetation, ensuring minimal maintenance while enhancing perspectives and reinforcing the relationship between interior and exterior spaces.

 

Geometric sculptures

The plot is located in Asprochomata, a promising residential area in the suburbs of Nicosia enclosed by fields of olive groves. The proposal explores a fundamental relationship between architecture and a response to its surroundings whilst also facilitating an essential design for the daily necessities of a modern family.

 

Architectural Volumes

The project is comprised of three individual structures; a single storey detached house, an external cooking and storage area as well as an outdoor shower for the swimming pool. The residence follows a rectangular shape of 23mx13m within which all living spaces are arranged. The interior layout is divided into two sections: a communal area and a private zone where the bedrooms are located. A central courtyard, situated at the heart of plot, leads to the outdoor spaces through large openings from the living room and kitchen, while framing views of the garden and the surrounding landscape and allowing an abundance of natural light to enter the space.

 

Material Selection

The architectural language encompasses simple forms, complimented by the project’s material palette. All structures on the plot are made of poured concrete, set in contrast to terrazzo floors that extend seamlessly throughout the building. Doors, storage cupboards, a bespoke kitchen unit and the bedroom flooring are made of oak wood, emanating a sense of warmth and tactility.

 

Landscape Design

The south facade overlooks the garden and swimming pool through three equal openings sheltered by external awnings. The garden is divided into three zones: low vegetation, tall trees and an array of impressive volumes constructed out of red pigment concrete -a material also used for the exterior paving, maintaining a visual consistency with the surrounding landscape. These structures are placed at optimal distance from the main building, serving as an abstract, spatial extension to the residence whilst also acting as sculptural forms within the garden.

Resilient exterior

The aim of the project is to design a watchtower as a prototype for future structures situated in the Melanos hill -an ideal location offering panoramic views of the southern areas of Akamas.

 

Design Prototype

The Akamas peninsula is a unique part of the island due to its diverse selection of flora and fauna, which led to its integration in the Natura 2000 protected areas network. Τhe proposal is developed through a contextless design approach: it occupies a small footprint, includes a raised viewing platform, which provides unobstructed views in all directions and finally, serves as a shelter for the harsh weather conditions.

 

 

Spatial Organization

The ground floor is composed of a cluster of independent volumes constructed out of reinforced concrete and cladded with local stone that divide the base into three distinct sections. A sheltered staircase leads to the upper level, which includes the staff WC, a water tank, as well as solar panels.

A rectangular balcony wraps around the watchtower and is shielded by a cantilevered roof that offers unobstructed panoramic views of the landscape. The room, located centrally on this level, is made of cross laminated timber and cladded externally in thermally treated timber boards, featuring a compact kitchen and counter. The space offers shelter during severe weather conditions, while maintaining a clear visual field through large openings and a raised floor.

 

 

Material Selection & Fire Protection

The material palette that was selected highlights the local natural materials and integrates the building to the landscape. The roof, also made of cross laminated timber, is cladded with metal panels creating a durable exterior shell. Galvanized heavy-duty doors shield the ground floor when the building is not in use.