The Concrete House at Paniotis is something special. Architects Markella Menikou created this bespoke home, which is located in a suburban area of Paniotis, Limassol. It certainly stands apart from neighboring properties.
Although neighbors are close-by, the home manages to achieve a feeling of openness and space. The home was strategically designed to reveal and hide parts of the home to maximize privacy.
Project Gallery
Creating Space and Privacy in a Dense Neighborhood
To give the homeowners more privacy, Markella Menikou added a metal screen on the western facade of the home. This screen not only offers privacy, but also creates a sense of drama as you approach the home and offers shade from the hot summer sun.
Climbing plants soften the space and add natural elements to the imposing western wall.
The home’s interior spills out into several interstitial spaces between the home’s concrete envelope, timber slat panels and sliding mesh screens.
The home is made of reinforced concrete with exterior concrete walls. The design creates a fully concrete shell. Exposed timber board creates an appealing mixture of colors and texture.
All of the home’s living areas are south facing and feature horizontal cantilevers that create shaded areas in the summer. The home also features openings in other orientations to encourage cross ventilation.
In total, the Concrete House spans 657 m2. The bottom floor features a guest room, playroom, plant room, laundry room, office and garage space for three vehicles. The second floor features a dining and living space as well as a bar, office, kitchen and storage space. The top floor features two bedrooms, a guest room, gym, veranda, bathrooms and the master suite.
The interior of the home features elements of wood and concrete, with custom modern furniture. The main outdoor living area offers plenty of space to relax and unwind in comfort and privacy. This area connects seamlessly to the main interior living areas.
Marrying the Indoors and Outdoors
The exterior landscaping surrounds the home and leads to the basement on the ground level, which provides easy access to the outdoors. The home’s outdoors spaces are just as important as its indoor space.
The large eastern garden is shaded by the home in the afternoon, making it a comfortable place to unwind in the hot summer. An outdoor room also functions as a primary living space. The stepping garden leads to the basement garden. The swimming pool area offers an additional outdoor space to enjoy. A planted ramp meanders to the basement garage, and there’s also an herb garden.
Achieving Energy Efficiency
The Concrete House was designed with passive cooling/heating strategies. A thermally insulated envelope in combination with active systems helps further improve the home’s energy efficiency.
Materials Used
The Concrete House features a wide range of materials in its design, including:
- Exposed timber board marked concrete
- Thermowood
- Sliding metal mesh screens
- Marble and timber parquet flooring
- Real aluminum systems windows
The concrete home demonstrates that it’s possible to play with a variety of materials. Concrete and timber work together to create a functional yet beautiful space that offers openness and privacy.
