HOLIDAY HOUSE, MESI VILLAGE, NAXOS ISLAND

The images below show the final design proposal that it will go hopefully ahead for planning. After informed consideration of a number of building legislation, the design strategy evolved to include a family house extended on the plot of an existing historic derelict and two studios on the adjacent site. Both studios can be accessed through the public path where their large windows promote convergence with the village life, but preserving a more private elevation on the east.

The design for the family home due to the site restrictions can only explore a single elevation for daylight, ventilation and views. The home activity is directly engaged with the public street on both levels and a private terrace for retrieval enjoys views towards the Aegean archipelago.  

The solar chimney becomes an important architectural feature and signposts the development in the village settings. 

HOLIDAY HOUSE, MESI VILLAGE, NAXOS ISLAND

The accommodation brief has been amended to reflect the local building regulations, as the initial accommodation brief could have not been fulfilled due to footprint restrictions.

The refurbishment of the existing house could only include for first floor bedroom and roof terrace with an external staircase leading to it. The views from the roof terrace bring the house in proximity with the village’s central street from west and open to the archipelago on the east.

The new development in plot H,Θ,Ι,Κ,Λ,Μ,Ζ covers less area from the maximum allowed footprint in order to offer open space for siting between the adjacent buildings. The new building offers two separate ground and first floor guest studios. The overall height is significantly lower from the refurbished building so the roof aspect views of the second are not spoiled.


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HOLIDAY HOUSE, MESI VILLAGE, NAXOS ISLAND: ELEVATION TREATMENT STUDY

The elevation design at this stage studies the volumetrics, the juxtaposition of primary materials and the re-composition of them in a contemporary way but still in correspondence with the local built environment. The local building directives dictate that the footprint of the new extension can cover only 80% of the plot’s surface. The staircase to the floor extension is counted to the footprint but not to the gross internal area as it is external. The building design can be challenging as the strict building regulations and the limited area for the new build put constraints to the design exploration.

The use of folding partitions at the main and only elevation of the new extension gives the flexibility of configuring the indoor space and connecting to outdoors. The design negotiates the alternation between stone, white render, and painted timber panels keeping the forms to primary sizes and shapes. 

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HOLIDAY HOUSE, MESI VILLAGE, NAXOS ISLAND: INITIAL ELEVATION TREATMENTS

After studying the local legislation for hours and trying to interpret clauses from different set of building regulations, I want to believe that the layout of the building is now set and I can move on to the design of the elevation treatment. The light well cannot be incorporated due to the limitation of the allowed internal gross area. This is a first design attempt to develop a responsive envelope to the internal accommodation that is less pervasive to the existing structure; it is not complex to construct and makes use of site materials or wide available building components.    

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HOLIDAY HOUSE, MESI VILLAGE, NAXOS ISLAND: Light Well Concepts

This is an initial thought of introducing a light-well to the west elevation of the building, which also forms the boundary line to adjacent properties and consequently no windows are allowed to this rear wall. The solution of a light-well which cuts through the ground/basement floor with full height windows on each floor overlooking into it, provides a satisfactory resolution by bringing useful diffused light into the rear accommodation, maintaining privacy and providing natural cooling.

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HOLIDAY HOUSE, MESI VILLAGE, NAXOS ISLAND: 4TH INITIAL IDEA

The 4th approach is a refinement of the previous design . The overall surface area of the new development has been reduced down to allow wider buffer zone between the existing and new building. The viewing strip has not been proved to sustain significant vistas for the refurbished property at the back, therefore, it should give away towards internal usable surface area.

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HOLIDAY HOUSE, MESI VILLAGE, NAXOS ISLAND: 3RD INITIAL IDEA

The 3rd approach in comparison to the 2nd idea, it explores the option of creating 2 new separate studia with an external built-in staircase for accessing the first floor. The viewing strip has been maximized to honour the existing refurbished residence at the west. The disadvantage of this design approach is that the buffer courtyard between the two buildings is omitted. The advantage is that the floor area is increased to the benefit of the new development.

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