Press Release
Natalia Kokosalaki Receives the Bronze A' Design Award for Summer Story Single Family House in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
Natalia Kokosalaki recognized for architecture, building and structure design by the international grand jury of the 2022 - 2023 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 20, 2023 /DesignNewswire/ Summer Story Single Family House by Natalia Kokosalaki, designed for Kokosalaki | Architecture, has been granted the Bronze A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category, A' Design Award & Competition has announced. The recognition forms part of the 2022 - 2023 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who assessed anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
What the Bronze A' Design Award Means
The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
About Summer Story Single Family House
Summer Story is a single family house in Roustika, Crete, at the foot of the Lefka Ori mountains. The house was built for a French couple to host a large extended family in summer. A large stone arched entrance leads to an enclosed courtyard and recalls the Venetian buildings of the island. Local stone and ocher were used, and the windows, doors and shutters are made of wood. The built in furniture was made by local craftsmen. Traditional Cretan forms are joined with a contemporary approach, so the house appears to have always been there.
About Natalia Kokosalaki
Kokosalaki|Architecture is an awarded office that has formed a platform for new ideas and unique design, undertaking various projects regardless of size and programmatic use. Kokosalaki|Architecture has completed projects ranging from historical renovations, summer houses, and boutique hotels in the Greek islands, to residences and commercial spaces in Athens.
Award Record
This recognition makes Natalia Kokosalaki a winner of 3 A' Design Awards. The awards were granted between the 2018 - 2019 and the 2022 - 2023 editions of the A' Design Award & Competition.
About the A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award
The A' Architecture Design Award is an international architectural design competition recognizing good architectural designs by best architects worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to architectural design studios, building contractors, structural engineering firms and architecture and design consultants from all countries. Typical entries include skyscrapers, museums, residential buildings, commercial complexes, educational institutions and religious structures. The awarded architectural projects are published at https://designers.org/design-category/architecture
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://designers.org/142719
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/142719
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!142719
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/217759
- Further Information from the Laureate: http://nataliakokosalaki.gr/portfolio/a-summer-story/
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Summer Story Single Family House
- Function
- Single Family House
- Category
- Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Discipline
- Spatial Design
- Industry
- Architecture
- Colors
- Light Slate Gray, Dark Gray, Dim Gray, Black and Slate Gray
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Kokosalaki | Architecture
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Natalia Kokosalaki
- Country
- Greece
- Recognition
- Bronze A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2022 - 2023
- Design ID
- #142719
Credits
- Image Credits
- Photographer: George Messaritakis
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- At the foot of the Lefka Ori mountains in Crete, a French couple decided to house their large extended family and spend their summers in a pure Cretan environment. The large arched entrance leading to an enclosed courtyard revives memories of the Venetians who left their mark on the island. We wanted to create a typical Cretan home - simple, distinguished, and very proud, and combined it with a contemporary design approach, to create a home as if it had always been there.
- Inspiration
- The brief was composed as if it was a first page of a novel, narrating a summer day in this imaginary Cretan house and its rural environment. It describes the various spaces of the house and the surrounding large garden. Immediately, the direct relation between inside and outside became the focus of our concept. Cretan life is well connected with the earth, the outdoors, the olive trees, and we were keen to sustain this throughout our design.
- Research
- Type: Environmental analysis. Objectives: To orient and integrate the design into the site. Methodology: Solar and wind analysis using computational tools, view selection and framing from site visit. Data Tools Used: Energy Plus weather data for analysis and solar paths; historical wind data; site visits and research on local architecture. Participants: Full office team. Result: Environmental analysis optimized the design, historical research allowed for selection of construction materials and methods. Effect: The design respects the local architectural language, integrating it fully in its environment, and promoting local artists and craftsmen.
- Challenge
- The client wanted to incorporate both the traditional architectural language of the area, but use modern construction techniques in order to create a home that fits into the landscape, to make it feel as if it has always been there.
- Realization and Technology
- Environmental and site analysis dictated the orientation of the house in relationship to the prime views and the position of the sun. Local stone and ocher were used in the construction, and all built in furniture was built by local craftsmen. In keeping with the traditional Cretan architecture the windows, doors, and shutters are all made of wood.
- Operation and Interaction
- The large stone arched entrance connects the outside with the inner courtyard and acts as a central focus point for the house, promoting the idea of indoor and outdoor living.
- Project Duration and Location
- Construction of the house in Roustika, Crete, was completed in 2018.
- Specifications
- 250 square meter building on a 4700 square meter plot of land
- Keywords
- Summer house, Crete, Greece, Traditional, Minimal, Slow living
