Almond Tree House is located in a quiet, rural site in central Cyprus. The design intent was to create a beautiful, sustainable family home that responds intuitively to context and topography.
The house is carefully positioned on a north-south axis to take advantage of dramatic views while working with orientation and passive shading to reduce solar gain and create pleasant microclimates and in-between spaces. The design has been optimised to reduce energy consumption and provide a pleasant indoor ambient temperature without the need for high levels of air-conditioning. All energy requirements are satisfied through rooftop solar panels.
The floorplan is arranged around a shaded central courtyard, taking inspiration from the local vernacular. This allows the programme to be divided into three zones – Entrance, Social, and Private. The central courtyard creates an additional cool, communal room at the heart of the house, protected from the wind and the hot summer sun. The landscaping is an integral part of the architecture, and forms a series of outdoor room and terraces that cascade down towards a large swimming pool sunk into the hillside.
The house is open plan with generous windows and natural lighting while carefully avoiding direct sunlight. Coming off the open-plan kitchen, the heart of the house is a large double-height living room with a fireplace and mezzanine level. Bedrooms are tucked into the a cosy private wing, while upstairs there is an office and study space looking out across the beautiful Cypriot landscape.
Project currently on-site, with expected completion in 2025
