Issue No 7 | Page 27

πίσω στα περιεχόμενα / back to the contents > A long slim 24m glazed sliding door system fully opens up to the south-east orientation to capture the views of the garden, the park and the city but also enhance uninterrupted connections between indoor and the outdoor surroundings. We wanted to create a relaxed in-between space in which interior and exterior intermingle and use architecture as means to connect people to nature in the city. These glazed doors not only separate the spaces inside but when are open the whole house behaves as a single space connected by gardens. The façade has operable sliding panels with louvers made of aluminium. These offer protection from the unbearable Mediterranean direct sunlight but also provide privacy from the close proximity neighbourhood; in the winter panels may slide back so that the winter sun warms the bedrooms. On ground floor the long projected first floor slab protects ground floor interior from the direct south-east sun but also is used as a green terrace for the upper floor which helps to reduce heat load gains during summer. This outdoor green terrace offers a stunning lookout to the city and distant views of surrounding parks and Pentadaktilos mountain. The courtyard becomes an intermediate space functioning both as an important regulator of the temperature inside but also as means of communicating. It serves to create the solar chimney effect as cool, fresh air is drawn into the house from cooler North whilst the heated air rises and exhausted out the top throughout the stairwell. Cross ventilation is maintained throughout the house as selected openings on the north /south axis produce a gentle cooling effect. 27