refugee house resurrection

These settlement houses were built in the '70s and '80s in Cyprus to accommodate the massive relocation of approximately 200,000 refugees who left their homes and valuables behind in 1974, when Turkish troops landed on the island and occupied approximately half of it in what has become one of the longest standing disputes of this kind in the United Nation's history. These houses were built with what today is considered less than the bare minimum needed for a reasonable standard of living.

One of these houses is the current project; One of the children of the owner, sentimentally attached to the property visited us to redesign the house to modern standards. Concept sketches were discussed and modified with the neighboring Architectural practice of Vasilis Ierides and back again. The work done so far conclusively proves that such houses can easily become comfortable modern living spaces.  The project is at the construction stage. More content on this project shall be gradually uploaded on our site.

Separately commissioned to outstanding specification, a residential beachfront apartment of approximately 200m2 was designed to project a modern, well lit, breezy living module directly on the mediterranean sea.

The chief design challenge was to bring to the very front of the residence the master bedroom and its associated spaces including a small private office, without limiting the 180 degree sea view offered by the location and without imposing on the living spaces also facing the sea. The solution was to use a retractable glass wall, which easily separates visually the bedroom from the living room, yet letting in the light from that particular side. With the glass wall opened up, the resident of the apartment can expand his bedroom to include his library, lounge, and practically all the "public" parts of the residence. 

The apartment is specified and built to the best quality available in the market, and is available for rent on a long-term basis at www.artisanhomes.eu

The young family that commissioned us to build an extra house over the existing single storey structure has over some sessions described their priorities which we elaborated on through easy discusssions.

We decided to place the bedrooms on the lower floor, and created three major zones;

1. The vertical circulation, which incorporates a lift wrapping around the stairwell.

2. The parent's domain which is accessed through a walk-in closet and which contains spaces intimately relating to each other and as part of a larger whole.

3. The children domain, which allows for up to three children to share a private and totally safe veranda between them without parents interference, and a family room which is the natural meeting point for all family, also incorporating the children work spaces. DOuble height, it visually connects to the living room floor above.

On the upper floor, we have created 4 zones; 

1. the vertical circulation, which also continues to the roof. 

2. The work/guest space, which can either operate as a very spacious office for two with a private library and fireplace, or as a more intimate office space plus a guest room within the library space.

3. The kitchen zone, which is opened up on both ends, and allows easy circulation througout it, with a part of the veranda specially assigned to it. 

4. The living room zone, whereby the living room opens up to the fireplace and the wine display-two good ways to start and finish an evening. The dining space has twin sliding doors, opening up or closing accordingly during the seasons and according to requirements. 

The house has been properly oriented and shileded from the weather, yet it remains permeable to the evening summer breeze.

This residence is located at a prestigious suburb of Limassol. It is still under construction, close to the finishing stages.

The house has been designed with climate and orientation in mind and was the result of close working effort between the client and the architect. 

Privacy was achieved via a solid perimeter and a house looking inwards into the garden which will be well-landscaped. Uses were zoned along different floor levels; 

1. A cool but well lit, pleasant basement, with a skylight and a pond at its center will house a multimedia space, a work space and a creative space, with the option of a small gym as well as mechanical spaces and garages. 

2. The ground floor offers a series of spaces that connect to each other and to the garden to the maximum extent possible, turning their back to the nearby road noise and opening the house up to the cool breeze. In succession, these spaces are-the kitchen, a family room, a dining room, and a living room with a beautiful corner fireplace. In addition of course we have the stair circulation, guest wc and wardrobes. 

3. The first floor is arrived at via a lovely staircase which offers views to the sea. All 4 bedrooms have their en-suite baths and small walk-in closets. The master bedroom is more spacious. There are no verandas upstairs.