The house is exploiting the north sea view and at the same time it takes advantage of the southern light via a void. It is a combination of a semi floor section with a continuous ground floor. The structure is mede from timber and the exterior walls from 40cm light clay.
The site is characterised by existing steps, which are used to adapt the intervention to the existing agricultural landscape. In general, each level is dedicated to a different function. The NW level is the plot’s most public zone, the only car accessible zone containing the entrance. Lower levels contain the house and pool respectively. The house’s flat roof is accesible, allowing stargazing during the night.
The house, together with three guest houses is situated in a former agricultural plot defined by dry stonewall “steps”. This special topography dictated the composition, each level relating to specific functions. The complex is structured around two public spaces, one on the level of the guest houses, and one on the groundfloor level of the main house, serving as an in between space. The main house, will also be used for various events, so its living room is of double height. All exterior walls will be made either by light clay or by hempcrete covering a wood skeleton. The domed form refers to traditional stone structures in the vicinity.
By demolishing existing walls the apartment acquired a characteristic 4,5m wide through multi functional space: appropriate for kitchen – dining – working – living etc. Existing floor materials were preserved
The client asked for a new kitchen layout in order to create a more spacious and lit living room. The wall separating the kitchen from the living room was torn down and the southern facade was expolited in order to bring sunlight in the living room
In a small but south oriented plot, the introverted structure of an internal courtyard was implemented. Everyday life evolves around this open space. The structure of the house is best perceived through its section. The central open space “opens” to the living room on the first floor and the dining – kitchen space on the ground floor. These two spaces can be unified through the internal courtyard during the summer time. On the ground floor level, there is a filtered view to the street through a pilotis. The volumetric layout of the house (three levels in the back and two up front) guarantees the best natural lighting in all spaces.
Concept
The house’s most public functions are located within a central double height space. A series of parallel walls to the south east axis divides the plot into two parts: the western one, more public hosting the entrance and the parking, and the eastern one, more introverted and private. There lies the central courtyard, the house’s open air center of life protected by the northwestern winds with a view to the plot’s olive grove. The house’s private spaces appear as pockets of the central space’s walls on the first floor. From three big openings in the central space oriented north, south and east, the sea view, the natural light and the plot’s agricultural landscape enter the house’s living space. This space functions as the house’s climate adjuster due to its location, orientation and proportions.
This apartment building is characterized by the decision to place all living spaces not on the street side (western orientation and no view) but towards the “back” yard, which, due to the plot’s inclination and its eastern orientation insures the best views possible and also the best shade in the afternoon, when mostly the living rooms are used. All bedrooms face the street, and are protected from the noise, unwanted views and the sun through a steel canopy with vertical sunshades of different colors. These shades act as a filter between the public (street) and private (bedroom) sphere. The shades’ different positions according to the wishes of the inhabitants as well as their different colorations, compose a constantly changing animated façade.
This single family house is structured around the “void” of a flexible single space of day activities. Towards the west, this space frames the city, while on the east, it is connected to a small garden with which it can be unified through wall to wall sliding glass panels. Viewed from the street, this central void space constitutes a hole on the city block, as it is perceived through the contrast between its transparency and the adjacent, solid surfaces. One floor below, on the street level, one can find the entrance to the house, the parking and support spaces. One floor above the living room level, the bedroom floor is located.
The plot is about 10m wide, oriented East-West, with an intense slope of about a floor difference between front and back. In the back, the plot gets narrower and reaches a width of 5m. The house is placed on the front, wider part, thus attributing the “irregular” part of the plot to the garden. On the west façade, the issue of sun protection is dealt with by placing a second façade layer made out of metal mesh.
