Completed 2014
The house is located in a developing suburban neighborhood of Nicosia. The area which is sparsely populated, features strong westerly winds and an arid climate. The site is also exposed to the strong summer sun with very minimal protection from existing vegetation.
The house is programmatically orchestrated around a central courtyard. This protected outdoor space is enclosed on the ground floor by a series of perforated metal doors on the south and west facades. These metal doors when pushed open allow this central courtyard to merge with the rest of the remaining plot. This internal courtyard is shaded by the cantilevered roof of the ground floor and by the rotating louvers that connect the roofs of the first floor bedrooms. These shading devices shade from the summer sun but also allow the winter sunshine to penetrated the interior spaces during the colder months of the year. Also the rotating louvers help to protect the bedroom balconies overlooking the courtyard from the morning and afternoon summer sun.
Utilitarian spaces are located along the north edge of the plot sheltering the house from the noisy street. Consequently communal spaces face south and can make use of the winter sun. During the summer the living spaces expand into the courtyard with the exterior sliding doors providing privacy and protection. These perimeter perforated metal doors allow for cross ventilation and also shade from unwanted reflections from the summer sun.
The upper floor is protected by horizontal strips of high pressure laminate. These shade in the south and offer privacy in the north but also allow for a visual connection with the surrounding landscape. Sliding glass doors leading to an outdoor veranda on the first floor allow for a more effective cross ventilation of the upper floor bedrooms.
Photos by Marios Christodoulides