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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. House 0614 in Nicosia, Cyprus by SimpraxisDecember 14th, 2012 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: Simpraxis The house designed for a couple with two children is situated in a suburban area of Nicosia that is only recently undergoing development. The square footprint of the house is largely determined by the rectangular shape of the site subtracting the three meters required setback on three sides and allowing for a large yard at the back that faces south. The house attempts to address the dual nature of the largely undeveloped landscape that can be inviting but also intimidating. The box is programmatically divided into two parts. A two story rectangular box along the east boundary includes bedrooms and a bathroom for the children as well as guest areas, service areas, kitchen and parking. The remaining void of the double height ‘box’ includes the common areas, the outdoor covered areas on the ground floor and the master bedroom and bath on the second floor.  Image Courtesy Marios Christodoulides, Christos Papantoniou
 Image Courtesy Marios Christodoulides, Christos Papantoniou An intermediary space with glass floor functions as a bridge that connects the master bedroom to the rest of the second floor. The experience of the floating transparent floor, besides physically connecting the two parts of the second floor, introduces an element of autonomy to the parents’ personal space within the bigger void of the house.  Image Courtesy Marios Christodoulides, Christos Papantoniou A system of glass sliding doors, together with folding metal/wood doors, enclose an outdoor space that connects the interior spaces. A gap on the second floor of the box allows for natural light to enter the courtyard and the interior spaces. A tree shades the interior courtyard in the summer and protects the interior spaces from the summer western sun. Once all glass doors are open the enclosed courtyard and the interior spaces function as one. Opening the exterior folding doors expands the boundary of the space to the edges of the rectangular lot and beyond.  Image Courtesy Marios Christodoulides, Christos Papantoniou Opening the folding wooden-clad doors during the winter months and maintaining the glass doors closed, allows for sunshine throughout the day. The deciduous tree situated in the portion of the courtyard open to the sky allows for southern light to warm up the areas located in the north part of the house.  Image Courtesy Marios Christodoulides, Christos Papantoniou Keeping the folding wooden doors closed during the summer and opening the glass sliding doors allows for effective cross-ventilation and passive cooling and also helps to shade the spaces, both indoor and outdoor, from the harsh direct and indirect sunlight. Clearstory, electrically operated windows facilitate ever more the creation of a comfortable environment during summer.  Image Courtesy Marios Christodoulides, Christos Papantoniou  Image Courtesy Marios Christodoulides, Christos Papantoniou  Image Courtesy Marios Christodoulides, Christos Papantoniou  Image Courtesy Marios Christodoulides, Christos Papantoniou  Image Courtesy Marios Christodoulides, Christos Papantoniou  Image Courtesy Marios Christodoulides, Christos Papantoniou  Image Courtesy Marios Christodoulides, Christos Papantoniou  Image Courtesy Marios Christodoulides, Christos Papantoniou  Image Courtesy Marios Christodoulides, Christos Papantoniou  Image Courtesy Marios Christodoulides, Christos Papantoniou Image Courtesy Marios Christodoulides, Christos Papantoniou  Image Courtesy Marios Christodoulides, Christos Papantoniou  Image Courtesy Marios Christodoulides, Christos Papantoniou  Image Courtesy Marios Christodoulides, Christos Papantoniou  Image Courtesy Marios Christodoulides, Christos Papantoniou  Image Courtesy Marios Christodoulides, Christos Papantoniou
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