House 1007

The house is located in a suburban area of Nicosia where protection from the strong winds and the desert climate become critical elements in the design. The house is programmatically orchestrated around a central courtyard that includes a deciduous tree that shades in the summer and permits sunlight in the winter. Sliding perimeter doors allow for cross ventilation and shade from unwanted reflections from the summer sun. They also enclose a covered courtyard that can be used as an extension of the interior living spaces that surround it.

Utilitarian spaces are located along the north edge of the plot sheltering the house from the noisy street. Consequently communal spaces face south can make use of the winter sun. Strategically located openings on the roof of the covered courtyard allow for natural heating of the interior spaces during the winter months. During the summer the living spaces expand into the courtyard with the exterior sliding doors providing privacy and protection. The central void surrounded by the communal spaces on the ground floor extends to the upper floors allowing visual connections between the bedrooms and the courtyard and living spaces on the lower level. Also it helps to separate the family bedrooms from the guest areas on the upper offering more privacy.

Location

Location