“Shell”… living space of visual intensities
Location: Volos, Greece
Located in the northern suburban part of Volos, a two-story residence with a closed garage spot was built. The residence is consisted of simple volumes with timeless features.
The amount of natural lights and air that passes through the building is a function of both its orientation and its proper placement on the plot. Quite sizeable openings help to visually connect the interior with the exterior spaces of the residence.
At the center volume of the residence, suspended from the two dominant angled walls, is the bioclimatic pergola, that emphasized the dynamic design lines of the residence, which opens up to the south and condenses towards the north. This geometry limits the northern exposure of the building and amplifies the infiltration of the sun into the inner spaces.
Τhe construction is separated visually in volumes with different texture, two of them with angled roof and the other one with a flat roof
At the ground level of the residence, one can find the kitchen, the living room next to the dining room and a guestroom with the common WC. The main door opens up the palette of choices for the visitor to visit the living spaces or the kitchen.
Moving on the upper floor, we encounter the two main bedrooms with their necessary auxiliary spaces. One of the bedrooms hosts a small attic that functions as an office. An open living room space is connected to the ground level through a stair.
This living area on the upper floor is connected to the bedrooms through a metal construction with glass floor, whilst in the rest of the upper level, wooden planks have been chosen for the floor, in an effort to make the spaces more welcoming and cosier. This “glass isle” makes the passages almost disappear and emphasizes the height of the building with the wooden roof as a dominant element visible from the dining area of the ground level. It also makes the indoor balcony seem like it is floating.
At the basement level, there is a closed parking space for the motorbikes with access to the ground level by a heavy-duty elevator placed on the northern side of the residence. In addition, all the necessary auxiliary spaces as well as the mechanical room can be found in the basement.
The residence is functionally connected, both internally and externally, with a double closed parking spot with an auxiliary attic. The volume of this area is simple with timeless industrial elements. The parking volume was added later in the design, shapes the building line and takes advantage of the through and through entrance and exit of the plot. In addition, the volume of the garage creates a connecting string that helps with the integration of the main residence to the urban web.
The construction in total, is made out of reinforced concrete with insulation covering the outside. The stone wall on the northern side of the building as well as the stone façade of the garage stand out. The roofs of the main residence and the garage have wooden structure and are covered with zinc. The materials used throughout the residence create a simple environment, which functions as a canvas for the life of the family.
The communal space, around the residence, was designed with respect towards its public character and the environment. In detail, green areas that were defined by small and larger rocks were created, as well as special care was given to attend on the pedestrians passing through this communal space.
