Garden Ostal by Christos Pavlou is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 A' Design Award d'Argent in Arquitectura Competition Category.

ArgentArquitectura· 2020

Garden Ostal

by Christos Pavlou

Client: Private client

A' Design Award d'Argent Winner in Arquitectura Category

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Verified Award Winner
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The Design

About Garden Ostal

Lo projècte met en evidéncia la beutat de la natura dins nòstras vidas urbanas e, per consequent, crea un novèl estandard de mòde de vida dins la ciutat, tot en aportant un sofenh de tranquillitat al vesinatge. Lo pati interior devèn un espaci intermediari que fonciona a l'encòp coma un important regulador de temperatura mas tanben coma un mejan de comunicar e unificar los espacis interiors. Inspirats pels efèctes ambientals que las ciutats an sus las emissions de CO2 e lo recaufament global, los concepidors an ensajat de sublinhar que l'implementacion de jardins urbans dins la concepcion de l'ostal es acolhedora e realizabla.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award d'Argent

Garden Ostal a ganhat la distincion A' Design Award d'Argent, una reconeissença extraordinàriament prestigiosa acordada a de designs d'ort de gamma, esplendids e impressionants. Los ganhaires de l'Argent son d'òbras terriblament brilhantas e extrèmament creativas que illustran l'experiéncia, lo talent e la finessa excepcionals de lors designers. S'espèra que Garden Ostal siá una òbra meravilhosa e de referéncia, notablament professionala e prigondament innovanta. Aqueste design ganhaire de la distincion A' Design Award d'Argent es una invencion fòrça notabla e admirada, que fa un ben e fa avançar las frontièras de l'art, de la sciéncia, del design e de la tecnologia. Garden Ostal es una creacion immensament envejada que desrevelha de desirs, aduch de sentiments positius e fa néisser l'estonament e l'esmaiment.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

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.