Bioclimatic shell

The project, located next to a traffic junction in one of the busiest and noisiest areas on the outskirts of Nicosia, is a medical center that provides day-care services across multiple fields, featuring modern and specialized operating rooms.

 

Design Philosophy

The elongated plot along Tseriou Avenue, oriented north–south, made it crucial to protect the building’s spaces from western and eastern solar exposure, as well as from excessive noise. The building is organized across six levels, two of which are underground. The ground floor, aligned with the adjacent pedestrian pathways, accommodates reception and service areas, a café, various gathering spaces, and offices. Medical areas, such as operating rooms and recovery rooms, are located on the first and second floors. The basement levels include support spaces and parking, while the third level houses mechanical installations.

The ground floor maintains a direct visual connection with the surroundings, is easily and immediately accessible from the sidewalk, and is surrounded by planting and outdoor areas for rest and dining. In contrast, the first and second floors are more introverted, with selective openings designed in direct relation to the functions they serve.

 

 

Facade and Shading Strategies

On the first and second floors, the eastern, western, and southern façades incorporate large rotating shading devices integrated into the building envelope, allowing generous outward views. When closed, they block sunlight and provide near-complete blackout conditions. On the western side, fixed perforated shading elements protect two external balconies directly connected to the vertical circulation, which can be used as breakout spaces.

On the northern façade, where solar protection is not required, a green wall covers the entire surface. In the intermediate zone between the wall and the vegetation, two balconies are constructed for plant maintenance as well as for relaxation. Spaces with direct visual contact to the green wall mainly include operating rooms and recovery beds.

 

 

Spatial Organization

The internal organization of the building, while overall reflecting the need for efficiency in patient care, is enriched with internal green atria and rest areas with balconies overlooking the city. These features create a well-lit and pleasant environment for both visitors and staff.

Geometric elements

Built amidst fields of wheat, the house is defined by the geometric treatment of three natural elements: Earth, water, and light. The composition becomes a sequence of different impressions throughout the day, and the poetics of space creates a detachment from the environment, as a layout raised above the landscape.

 

Design Philosophy

At once, a home, and imagery: the former attribute is experienced practically, and the latter becomes the source of ideas. One layout and one clear line, diagonally traced upon a simple volume, define the building. It is an elongated volume of bare concrete, placed in-between the ground and the sky. Its elegant character is described in simple lines, uniting and dividing.

The floor-to-ceiling opening maintains proportions which allow an unobstructed sky view. The building volume is subtracted from the soil, creating a seamless flow of open air space beneath – a gesture further accentuated with the water axis, perpendicular to the building.

 

 

Façade Morphology

The shell is introverted, with only a few incisions on its surface, and the dominant bare concrete is complemented with a screen of perforated, folded bronze shades. Contact with the outside remains at the disposition of the inhabitant. Each idea requires a practical application. The living experience is entirely introverted, with the materiality of concrete enforcing this impression. The bold gesture at the entrance -an oversized prism which absorbs a disproportionate part of the whole- acts as a bridge to the interior, with its geometry and size underlining the distance between public and private.

 

 

Materials & Sustainability

Incisions are few, and precise: one opening at the kitchen looks downwards; one light well at the end of the corridor accentuates a sculpture in space, and marks arrival. At the entrance prism, a vertical aperture is juxtaposed to the incision of the kitchen; as a result, each afternoon, a strip of light crosses through. Those elements are brought into a marked contrast with the other two faces of the volume, where the wall is expressed as absence.

The shading device is also a mechanism, a filter in an environmental approach. The ample height of the spaces alludes to vernacular architecture, where the large air volume stabilizes interior temperature. The thermal mass of the walls adds to this effect. The tectonic shell of the project wraps this interior in an austere line, without any superficial gestures.

 

LAMDA LEVENTIS, one of the most historic and strongest manufacturers of shading systems in Greece, reaffirms its long-standing leadership in the sector and further strengthens its international reach through its participation in MADE EXPO 2025 in Milan and R+T Turkey in Istanbul -two of the most important international trade fairs in the construction and architecture industry.

Its presence at these events, which serve as key meeting points for professionals from around the world, is a strategic move. With consistent export activity to more than 60 countries, LAMDA LEVENTIS leverages international exhibitions as a platform to strengthen partnerships, expand into new markets, and showcase Greek industrial design on a global level.

At the company’s stands at MADE EXPO 2025 and R+T Turkey, visitors had the opportunity to experience firsthand the latest technological upgrades and innovative shading solutions presented, including next-generation bioclimatic pergolas, advanced vertical systems, pioneering glass constructions, and sophisticated fabric solutions, highlighting the company’s technical excellence and contemporary design approach.

The CEO of LAMDA LEVENTIS, Mr. Vasilis Leventis, stated: “International trade fairs are a pivotal driver of growth for us. They provide a platform to develop new partnerships, exchange expertise, and present the innovations that are shaping the next trends in architectural shading worldwide.”

Guided by uncompromising quality and a long-standing tradition spanning nearly six decades, LAMDA LEVENTIS continues to raise the bar and position Greece on the global map of the most advanced shading systems.

Marking 50 years of uninterrupted operation, STONETECH -a vertically integrated and outward-looking company in the processing and trading of natural stone- ushers in a new phase of growth with the acquisition and operation of state-of-the-art facilities in Ypato, Boeotia.

This strategic move is accompanied by a €10 million investment plan over a five-year horizon, strengthening the company’s production capacity and international competitiveness.

The new complex spans a total area of 75,000 sq.m., including 10,000 sq.m. of specialized production and storage spaces. The facilities are equipped with cutting-edge technology, such as robotic cutting systems, automated processing lines, and advanced digital infrastructure, ensuring technological excellence and high production flexibility.

At the same time, the facilities operate in accordance with sustainable development standards, fully integrating the principles of circular economy: they utilize renewable energy sources, reuse 95% of water, and fully recycle all marble waste generated during production.

Serving as a central hub for production, commercial support, and brand presentation, the new infrastructure significantly enhances STONETECH’s ability to meet the growing demands of international markets. It houses a Slab Showroom featuring high-quality materials from Greek and international quarries, while its upgraded capacity allows for faster and more flexible execution of large-scale orders, ensuring consistency and quality.

Its operation is expected to significantly accelerate the company’s penetration into key international markets, further strengthening the dynamic growth of exports, which already account for 40% of total turnover.

A key driver of STONETECH’s production self-sufficiency and quality consistency is its privately owned quarries, which ensure supply stability, strict quality control, and full alignment with the specifications of each project. The new facilities maximize these advantages, enhancing operational flexibility and reducing response times to orders.

The investment has already led to the creation of new jobs, with the workforce expected to increase by up to 30%. Priority in recruitment is given to residents of the Ypato area, while cooperation with local suppliers is being strengthened, generating multiplier benefits for the regional economy.

With a long-term focus on innovation, sustainable production, and international growth, STONETECH continues to strengthen its infrastructure and cultivate a dynamic environment for the development of its people, reinforcing its position as a global ambassador of Greek marble.

Statement by the CEO, Nikos Goniannakis:

“The new facility represents the next step in a vision that has always guided us. It is not merely an investment in infrastructure, but a clear strategic statement: to innovate and to strengthen the international competitiveness of Greek marble.”