Block 0704

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Block 0704

Mismatches
Financing
Promotion and production
Ownership and tenure

Main objectives of the project

Block 0704 presents a new type of urban housing that attempts to challenge conventional architectural typologies of the apartment block.

Date

  • 2013: Construction

Stakeholders

  • Architect: Christos Christodoulou
  • Architect: Marios Christodoulides

Location

Continent: Europe
City: Geri
Country/Region: Cyprus

Description

The block can be reinterpreted as a collection of ‘suburban residences’ that include two levels of spaces offering a separation of common areas and private spaces, a more immediate and effective relationship with the outside, a relatively large covered outdoor area, and the use of natural elements as deciduous trees to moderate the microclimate of each space. The relationship to the street becomes secondary with the arrangement of the spaces suggesting a more introverted experience that also encourages the modern dwellers to maximize use of the space and the relationship between indoors and outdoors. The traditional protruding verandas of the typical apartment block are reintegrated into the main mass of the building becoming an integral part of the interior/exterior spatial experience, both visually and functionally. Consequently the apartments attempt to satisfy contemporary desires which require flexibility, privacy, and a more inclusive relationship with the outdoors.
The area is relatively densely populated and characterized mostly by large residences, as well as a small number of apartment blocks, and full-grown vegetation offering shade during the summer months. It offers the benefits of a small and quiet neighborhood, with the convenience of being within walking distance to the city center.

Block 0704 includes eight apartments, four two bedroom units and four three bedroom units. The units are arranged in two levels, with the bedrooms being on a different level from the living and kitchen areas. The sleeping areas of the smaller units are on the lower level while in the larger units they are situated on the upper level.

The building was designed to reduce the need for mechanical support in creating a comfortable environment as much as possible. All apartments are two level with double height spaces and are located at the four corners of the block. Daylight enters the interior spaces from two directions and at both levels.
Also cross ventilation for cooling becomes much more effective. To allow for direct sunlight in all spaces at some point during the day, especially during the winter months, all the units have controlled openings facing either east, south, and/or west. The deep verandas facing east and west receive plenty of sunlight but prevent direct sunlight from reaching the large sliding glass doors and interior spaces during the hot summer months.

All exterior spaces are covered except the cantilevered sections of the balconies that have provisions for trees. These trees can act as a brise-soleil regulating the micro climate of the immediate covered spaces, and also of the interior spaces. The outdoor covered areas for each apartment are very generous and are in direct relationship with the interior spaces. This makes them useable at all times of the day, and for the greater part of the year.

The plot size is 669 sq.m. The interior spaces are 936 sq.m. There is an additional 316 sq.m. of covered areas. The three bedroom apartments are 150 sq.m. and the two bedroom 120 sq.m.

Colocassides Residence

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Colocassides Residence

Main objectives of the project

A mountain weekend home for a couple, which has a great interest in music, cooking and nature.

Date

  • 1995: Construction

Stakeholders

  • Architect: Haris Hadjivassiliou
  • Architect: Vassilis Trooussiliou

Location

Continent: Europe
Country/Region: Cyprus

Description

The brief asked for a comfortable holiday home with a spacious living and dining spaces where the owners could relax, read and appreciate the vineyard vistas of distant melting horizon.

The programme requested to incorporate the master bedroom to the living and dining zones, while the guest living quarters should be isolated in a different floor.
The steep site is surrounded by verdant pine forest where minimum construction is permitted. The topography, orientation as well as the programmatic requests suggested an elongated house embedded in earth (minimum cut and fill) in which all spaces are organized linearly looking south to the uninterrupted vistas.

In addition the typology of the adjacent stone vine terraces confirm the building form with a flat roof. Flat roofs ar indigenous in the surrounding villages for drying grapes.

Structurally and functionally this house is defined by a series of five cube outlines. The resulting rectangular volume is dissected by a curved retaining wall, which holds the land behind. Circulation happens in the resulting space, which is illuminated from above with natural light.
The “piano nobile” (first floor) accommodates main living spaces and master bedroom whereas the ground floors comprise guest area, utilities and garage.

All structural elements are of fair-faced concrete, its finish reveals the rich pattern of the timber surface. All dividing brick walls are rendered to the soil colour of the adjacent slopes. Most of the materials are left to their natural state.

In all three dimensions the golden ratio principles were employed. The facades were derived from the plans by way of dynamic symmetry.