A pleasant living experience. ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice
21/06/2021.
[Limassol] Cyprus
metalocus, VALERIA OZUNA
metalocus, VALERIA OZUNA
The architecture studio Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice has designed the ZIO Apartment Block, a residential building located in the city of Limassol, located on the southern coast of Cyprus and capital of the district with the same name.
The four-story apartment project is projected in a central and compact block that contrasts with light metal structures as suspended balconies. In this way, it is intended to provide an optimal user experience while optimizing construction and maximizing material and energy savings.
The four-story apartment project is projected in a central and compact block that contrasts with light metal structures as suspended balconies. In this way, it is intended to provide an optimal user experience while optimizing construction and maximizing material and energy savings.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Photograph by Creative Photo Room.
1st and 2nd floor. ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice.
3rd floor. ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice.
4th floor.. ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice.
Construction detail section. ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice.
Diagram. ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice.
The residential building designed by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice has six apartments on each level. The floor plan consists of two two-bedroom apartments on the first two floors, while two different three-bedroom apartments are arranged on the third and fourth floors.
The project uses a structural system consisting of a solid core and columns only on the perimeter of the building, thus allowing greater flexibility and freedom in plan design.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice.
The project uses a structural system consisting of a solid core and columns only on the perimeter of the building, thus allowing greater flexibility and freedom in plan design.
ZIO apartment block by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice.
Description of project by Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice
A four-storey apartment block with six apartments was designed to create a pleasant living experience while optimizing construction and maximizing material and energy savings.
The compact central volume of the cube-shaped block is juxtaposed with lightweight metal structures that are the suspended balconies for private mainly outdoor use.
The compact block includes a high level of insulation aiming to leave a small ecological footprint and be economically efficient. Shadings for the edifice and solar, power-generating, panels were placed to maximize the building’s orientation.
The structural system used, a strong core and columns only on the perimeter of the building, allows flexibility in floor plan design. Two two-bedroom apartments were created on each floor for the first two floors while two different three-bedroom apartments were created on the 3rd and 4th floor that serve the different needs of the users while following the urban planning regulations.
The ceiling of each typology was designed independently so that the functional, aesthetic and structural needs of the building are served.
Special attention was given to the floor design of the apartments, a combination of materials tends to unify the spaces disregarding the separation walls.
The roof is organized to a roof garden that acts as a common recreation area through lightweight structures which are covering up the mechanical floor, adding to the building’s overall aesthetic.
- Structural approach
Computational optimization techniques were applied to determine the structural system of the project in order to minimize the impact of seismic activity. This led to a decrease in the amount of reinforcement needed for the construction, given the small cross-sections of the structural elements.
Additionally, the waffle slab system was chosen to reduce the cost for the formworks and to lessen the total weight of the reinforced concrete structure. The cantilevered balconies are metal hinged additions that don’t affect the sturdiness of the rest of the structure.
More information
Architects
Project team
Alexis Papadopoulos, Despo Anagiotou, Despo Panayidou, Maria Protou, Andreas Aristodemou.
Collaborators
Lead Architects.- Alexis Papadopoulos, Maria Protou. Civil Engineer.- Odysseas Georgiou, Savvas Hadjichambis. Electrical Engineer.- Makis Ioakim. Mechanical Engineer.- Savvas Aristeidou. Quantity Surveyor.- Thomas Thoma. Lighting.- Ioannides Lighting.
Area
734 sqm.
Dates
Completion Year.- 2021.
Location
Limassol, Cyprus.
Photography
Alexis Papadopoulos. Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice
Alexis Papadopoulos was born in 1978 in Limassol; he studied architecture at the National School of Architecture in Marseille, at the National School of Architecture in Grenoble, and Sapienza University in Rome. During and after his studies, he worked in important architectural offices in Marseille and Limassol, where he had the opportunity to participate in international architectural competitions.
Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice opened in April 2010 with the vision of placing the latest practices and critical thinking in architecture within the framework of Cypriot history and contemporary society.
Their predominant tool is the dialogue they engage in with their clients, the team of engineers and contractors, governmental bodies, and the actual land and surrounding environment. In the context of an open-ended process of giving and receiving, their approach leads to creations that are universal, special, and personal all at once.
In 2014-16 they have been members of the European network and co-creation of the Cypriot branch of the SHHT Association to publish the magazine with architectural/social concerns "the magazine of untold architecture". Alexis was a member of the jury for the international competition for social housing in Limassol, Cyprus.
Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice opened in April 2010 with the vision of placing the latest practices and critical thinking in architecture within the framework of Cypriot history and contemporary society.
Their predominant tool is the dialogue they engage in with their clients, the team of engineers and contractors, governmental bodies, and the actual land and surrounding environment. In the context of an open-ended process of giving and receiving, their approach leads to creations that are universal, special, and personal all at once.
In 2014-16 they have been members of the European network and co-creation of the Cypriot branch of the SHHT Association to publish the magazine with architectural/social concerns "the magazine of untold architecture". Alexis was a member of the jury for the international competition for social housing in Limassol, Cyprus.
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