Garden Kay

Press Kit

Unique Properties

The garden house project emphasises how much potential there is for urban gardens and for the creation of
micro climates which could improve the living conditions within cities and slow global warming. Central element of the house was the planting of gardens on 60% of the plot on ground floor and promoting the use of green terrace on first floor. Bee-lawn was mostly planted on ground floor creating a friendly environment for bees helping thus to maintain the biodiversity.

Dimensions & Packaging

site area 579 sq.m., building area 188 sq.m, garden area 346 sq.m., garden 60% of the plot.

Tags

urban house, exposed concrete, landscape, green roofs, bee grass.

Production Technology

Reinforced concrete columns and beams was the main structural bearing frame but steel circular columns were also used to support the slabs next to glazing doors. Thermal bricks and plasters finishes were used for the outer walls .Ceiling finishes were left to expose the fair face of the concrete, semi solid timber flooring was used for both floors. The facade has operable sliding panels with louvres to control light and heat gains but also to provide privacy from close proximity neighbourhood.

Design Challenge

Cities are considered to be one of the major reasons for the many environmental issues we have today. Studies show that cities emit 60% more carbon than thought , they account for more than 70% of the global CO2 emissions. The garden house proposal seeks to upgrade the quality of the urban fabric , improve the biodiversity and thus reduce dioxide footprints in the city.

Research

To reduce energy consumption the following has been applied 1.passive solar, right orientation, cross ventilation and chimney stack effect due to the green courtyard 2.High performance insulation materials, 3. Energy glass ( low e) 4. External panels blocking 100% of direct solar load, 5.Led lighting, 6.Automation, 7. 15 photo-voltaic panels ,4 solar panels. 60% of the plot area was planted with bushes, aromatics, bee-lawn, olive trees, the terrace was used as a green roof reducing heat gains.

Inspiration

When landscape becomes an inspiration there are no boundaries between inside and outside. In contrast with many urban houses built to isolate themselves from the rest of the neighbourhood erecting fences this proposal aimed to form a physical continuation of the public green area that exists on its longer boundary. The design seeks to establish a unified relationship between the neighbourhood, the private garden and the public area. This idea helps to upgrade the quality of the urban fabric.

Project Duration

project started in September 2017 and finished around January 2019, in Nicosia , Cyprus.

Operation Flow

The house is designed in two rectangular cubes with a green courtyard in-between them. The idea of the inner garden makes it hard to realise where the garden stops and the interior begins. Fully open sliding glazed doors open up to the south-east orientation to capture the views of the garden, the park and the city. These doors not only separate the spaces inside but when are open the whole house behave as a single space connected with gardens.

Image Credits

image #1:Charis Solomou, image#2:Charis Solomou, image#3:Charis Solomou, image #4:Charis Solomou, image #5:Charis Solomou.