Two of a Kind
The project is about two private residences comprised of two storeys, basements and two swimming pools on the lot. The two residences are designed to serve the needs of the owners for long-term flexibility that will accommodate different living arrangements until their children are old enough for them to be passed down to.
The plot, almost rectangular, faces a street on its highest, narrower side, on the northwest, the provides its access to it. The other three sides are facing neighbouring plots. On the northeast and on the southeast, there are neighbouring residences whereas, the plot on the southwest is currently vacant. The natural landscape of the plot creates a slope of 13%.
The placement of the residences on the site forms an introverted relationship to the neighbouring properties. The residence higher on the slope, residence 1, is placed parallel to the access street, whereas the other one, residence 2, parallel to the northeast boundary of the site. This placement allows for the creation of an internal garden and takes advantage of the further-away view of the sea from the top of the plot’s slope. The obvious distinction in views between the two residences is mediated by the recess in the second residence’s volume, which provides it with more exterior space. The internal garden is intentionally facing the south side of the plot, providing it with plenty of light and avoiding the north, cold winds. The introverted character of the buildings will prove useful long-term, as the density of the area’s built environment grows.
Thus, the views, both internal and further-away sea view, inspires the coarse nature of the design. Volume and shape wise, the arrangement takes advantage of simple geometries, aiming to create a compact spatial experience with relatively minimum resources.
Furthermore, the introversion of the design also informs the elevations of the scheme. Both the elevation of residence 1, facing the access street, and the one of residence 2 facing northeast, the existing neighbouring building, are mostly solid in order to offer as much privacy as possible. On the contrary, using the internal garden, the corresponding internal elevations bear extensive openings aiming to blur the lines between interior and exterior.
As mentioned before, the two residences are independent from each other, and as per the above, their programme is developed in plan as well. On the ground floor are the common areas; kitchen, dining and living room with extensive circulation routes throughout the length of the floor as well as the staircases placed at the back of the plan. Accordingly, on the first floor are the bedrooms which are facing the internal garden with options for various levels of transparency. Finally, in the basement are mostly storage and laundry spaces as well as a plant room.
Responding to the natural environment of the wider area of Neos Voutzas, the design is based on materials from natural resources. Furthermore, those materials remain in their natural state or as close to as possible. Thus, the residences are constructed of reinforced concrete which remains exposed. The wooden formwork is comprised of planks 10cm wide, which when disassembled leave imprints that provide scale and character to the design. In the garden, where there are slabs, they are laid with bricks in natural colour, and in some areas steps or supports, are made of concrete which is either bush hammered or washed. Additionally, the roofs are covered in green coloured zinc that offer smaller weights and thinner sections. The openings are fitted with black aluminium frames, same colour as the chimneys and railings across the whole project.
The envelope is insulated internally and the aluminium frames are equipped with thermal breaks and energy glass panes. Other than the correspondence between insulation and wall openings, the project approached efficiency in two ways. Firstly, with water conservation and secondly by taking advantage of solar power. Therefore, in a simple manner, two water reservoirs are built into the plot that collect rainwater water from the roofs to use in the extensive garden. At the same time, solar systems are installed on the roof to contribute to the energy efficiency of the project. Both passive and active systems used in this project ensure an A+ energy rating for the residences.
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Location - Neos Voutzas, Attica
Overall Area - 600 sq.m.
Under Construction -
Margarita Lempidaki
George - Athansios Nikopoulos -
PPA Structurals
Vasilis Kasimis
Giorgos Kiriakos -
Pantelis H. Argiros
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dire architects