On undertaking the commission of designing a house for a family of four in an underdeveloped suburb in Nicosia, Cyprus, Simpraxis Architects had to take into consideration the relatively isolated location of the site and the subsequent exposure to the elements which any structure would have to withstand during the hot Cypriot summer.
This issue was addressed and incorporated into the design of House 0614 by dividing the square volume of the structure into two parts visually connected on the upper levels by a glass floor which allowed natural daylight to enter the interior via an internal courtyard. This duality also served the purpose of creating privacy for the parents in the Master bedroom and bathroom in one section and accommodating the children’s bedrooms, bathroom and guest room in the other. By designing a square structure this also gave ample space for a generously sized back yard on the rectangular site.
An ingenious climate control system of folding wood and metal doors on the exterior and sliding glass walls on the ground level allows the family to control the sun’s exposure on the interior, thereby creating shade and natural ventilation flow and passive cooling at the flick of a switch! The wonderful adaptability of this design is an example of what can be achieved by working with nature to create a hospitable environment in a somewhat inhospitable climate.
