ARP -Architecture Research Practice

Avlakia House

Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali

AVALAIKIA HOUSE 

ARP - Architecture Research Practice

ARCHITECTS
ARP - Architecture Research Practice

STRUCTURAL DESIGN
ERISMA

PHOTOGRAPHS
Erieta Attali

MEP
Pg Kamarinos Consulting Engineers

ARCHITECT IN CHARGE
Argyro Pouliovali

YEAR
2020

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Erisma

MEP DESIGN
Pg Kamarinos Consulting Engineers

DESIGN TEAM
Eva Alberini, Marilena Stavrakaki, Nora Delidimou

MANUFACTURERS
Bega, Ceadesign, Franke, CEA, Duravit

LANDSCAPING
DOXIADIS+

CONSTRUCTION
Oliaros

STEELWORKS
Worx Steelworks

OPENINGS
Antonis Chatziantoniou, Expa SA

TERRAZZO FLOORS
Nikos Politis

INTERIOR DESIGN
Sarah Hammond

CATEGORY
Landscape Architecture, Houses

LIGHTS
Expo SA, Site Specific

LOCATION
Antiparos, Greece

Text description provided by architect.

Avlakia House rests in-between two gorges (avlákia in Greek) in the Cycladic island of Antiparos, Greece.

Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali
Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali

The site is facing the west directly, while it is also exposed to the northern stronger winds.

It enjoys views of 180º towards the Aegean archipelagos and the neighboring islands of Sifnos and Serifos.

Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali
Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali

Its shape is much dictated by our intention to preserve the topography and the landscape of the Cyclades archipelago.

Its shape and deciding what to reveal and whatnot is a balancing act between the human experience, environmental and cultural sustainability.

Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali
Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali

Avlakia House is a hybrid between a building and a constructed landscape, an earthwork.

The building emerges from the landscape in the form of a stone retaining wall. A white volume rests on it, with a monumental, temple-like presence.

Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali
Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali

This monumentality is achieved by a series of formal operations (inward inclinations, scale, proportions, symmetry, repetition of openings) that consider the site's relation to the sun and transform a white box into a sculptured building, a Cycladic temple.

The “temple” and an organically formed retaining wall that follows the topography host the public interior and exterior areas.

Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali
Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali

Subterranean stone volumes comprise the bedrooms and wrap around a courtyard in a village-like arrangement.

The amphitheater acts as a viewing platform, with its only purpose being to take in the site. The subterranean guest house takes up the form of an agricultural stone retaining wall.

Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali
Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali

The project draws on the vernacular building tradition while it elevates spaces into new contemporary forms. Emphasis is given so that the architecture engages with the local economy.

Sourcing local materials, working with local crews, and reenacting craftsmanship traditions (explicit use of local stone and Greek marbles, terrazzo floors, and traditional mortar) contribute to the site's both cultural and environmental sustainability.

Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali
Avlakia House

Deep natural shading, cross-ventilation, avoiding thermal bridges, and maximizing solar energy for water and heating also reduce the overall energy consumption.

Planted roofs and courtyards relieve the spaces from the need for powerful cooling systems.

Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali


Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali
Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali
Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali
Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali
Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali
Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali
Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali
Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali
Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali
Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali
Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali
Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali


Avlakia House
Avlakia House
Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali
Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali
Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali
Avlakia House
© Erieta Attali


Avlakia House
Axonometric
Avlakia House
Front Elevation


Avlakia House
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Avlakia House
Plan

Avlakia House
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ARP -Architecture Research Practice
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ARP -Architecture Research Practice
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