Chalkidos Street Residence by Armon Choros Architects
Armon Choros Architects have designed the Chalkidos Street Residence in Larnaca, Cyprus.
The architects were asked to produce an introverted residence, with an internal yard where the water would constitute the main element of the space. The architects were also tasked with making use of the south-east sun and the western air, as well as creating spaces that have height and light, but were also plain and hospitable to the art collection of the owner.
Visit the website of Armon Choros Architects – here.
CHALKIDOS STREET RESIDENCE
Larnaca, Cyprus
Private House.
Architect: Eleftheria Serghidou, Vasilis Pashiourtides
Structural Engineering: Nicos Kalathas, George Demetriades
Mech. Engineering: Giannos Zempylas
Photographer: Christos Papantoniou
Design: 2000
Completion: 2007
Construction cost: € 500,000
It was asked for an introvert residence, with internal yard where the water would constitute the sovereign element of the space but also of the whole work. Exploitation of the natural parameters to the best possible means, being the south-east sun and the western air, the spaces to have height and light and also to be plain and hospitable to the art collection of the householder.
The reference to the westwards neighbouring thicket was considered that besides to be a direct factor, it had to intervene decisively in the format of the work.
That is why the compact skin, which encompasses the residence and enclose the open space, revealed on the west. The natural elements enter the residence, changing gradually in colours and being filtered at the top of her volume. As for the water, being free and erosive is piercing the skin to a point at the south.
The access is tangent to the curve and the spaces refer to the interior, while the “public space” of the living room, being transparent, sees outside with a view to the thicket. The internal circulation in the ground floor organizes, separates and unifies the inside with the outside, while in the first floor it recedes leaving the spaces in free optic to the yard. The plantings outdoor are allocated freely and not, up to the limit of the plot.
kb on 23 Mar 2009 at 10:33 am #
This house takes my breath away!
Love the pool bridge and the windows!
Will Matias on 23 Mar 2009 at 1:27 pm #
i agree, the bridge is amazing! and i love the odd angles of the rooms, and the curved outside wall.. i really like this one
AJ Ladd on 23 Mar 2009 at 2:48 pm #
Very good use of bifold top to bottom windows. Seen a similar use in Palm Springs, CA.
Love the concrete form work used for the curved wall.
Finally, the pool with the bridge is a great focal point.
Travis Bower on 23 Mar 2009 at 3:17 pm #
This is amazing, Really love it but I would of liked to see a bit more green in the internal yard. Some grass would of added alot more to the design instead of all that Grey.
steve on 23 Mar 2009 at 3:36 pm #
surely this building cost more than € 500,000.
If it did, well done to the architect.
graham on 23 Mar 2009 at 4:32 pm #
all a bit to stark and cold for my liking. I’d imagine it would be very hot in the middle of summer in the courtyard. The bridge just seems to be a last minute addition as it doesn’t relate to anything else.
I like the idea of the introverted nature of it but for me I couldn’t live there.
On a side note can an architect just once, speak/write like a normal person instead of the waffle they tend to use to describe their projects.
C-Mo on 23 Mar 2009 at 6:08 pm #
In all, I feel like the home is very innovative and takes sustainability and operability into consideration very well. However, i question the amount of privacy allocated to the pool itself. The first photo looks as if there is a bridge that crosses that street and provides a very visible access to a somewhat private space. I realize this is the southern facing wall, but possibly could have been revealed and concealed in a different manner. Other than that, the house is a wonderful and intriguing work of art.
Adrian Salgado on 23 Mar 2009 at 6:51 pm #
Very interesting. However, it looks and feels like a public space to me.
D-Ferrite on 23 Mar 2009 at 7:16 pm #
@graham-
i totally agree with your observation. This house is a bit too cold for my liking as well. Although what are you expecting to get out of a website called the Contemporist? The first photo is much more enticing than the actual house becomes in the rest of the photos.
As a sidenote to grahams sidenote… architects will never be able to take the fluff out of their lingo. I believe it keeps them high up on their imaginary pedestals overlooking us commoners below.
rj on 23 Mar 2009 at 8:43 pm #
ok. apparently a lot of “pritzker´s winners´´ comment here. dont know if they are architects but probably and APPARENTLY they design only “master-pieces´´ of architecture. funny comments.
If the house or whatever accomplished with the requirements of the client, then its a good work,THATS ALL THAT MATTERS IN ARCHITECTURE.
at the end others people opinions doesn´t matters.
the only thing im agree is that in architecture words/description or whatever must be unnecesary, works must to talk for itself.
M. Constantinou on 24 Mar 2009 at 4:19 am #
I am very stunned, suprised and shocked( in a positive way) that architecture design in cyprus has started to evolve….i come from cyprus and since 22 years i havent seen such a good work and design…well done to the architects and i am quite eager to see more of these houses there..
even though i think that the house is still cold and does not match the urban character of the surrounding area there…and the interior design is not corresponding to the exterior…and this house is also missing lighting design…they didnt consider the lighting…it is a nice design but lacks some aspects when it comes to the sustainability of the design..
kast on 24 Mar 2009 at 7:26 pm #
ITS A MODERN, INDUSTRIAL CHIC… ROUGH ,,COLD ,,GREY …I GET BORED WITH THIS CONDITIONS LOOKING IN THE PALE BUILDING …DAILY….
ScoTTT on 26 Mar 2009 at 2:19 pm #
I think is nice, but it’s a little bit in the shadows, one side of the pool is making everything look too dark and the concrete makes it feel cold. Too industrial.
Vasilis Pashiourtides on 29 Mar 2009 at 3:21 am #
Thank you all !
If you want you may rate the house and the other works of our firm in the page:
http://www.worldarchitecture.org/world-buildings/world-buildings-detail.asp?position=detail&country=Cyprus&no=3743
James on 05 Apr 2009 at 1:59 am #
Reminds me of the work of Tadao Ando. Different and daring.
TrierfixReate on 08 Apr 2009 at 8:26 pm #
FANTASTIC!