Silver Architecture, Building and Structure Design · 2024
Serpentine House Residence
- A' Design Award 2024 Silver Winner in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Awarded April 15, 2024
- CLIENT: Potiropoulos and Partners
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 30,235
- Verification code BC578A3500 · Verify this award
About Serpentine House Residence
The architectural gesture of a long L shaped flowing form along the two main edges of the site seeks to create a threshold between the surrounding scenery and the resulting negative, a courtyard of similar scale to the building footprint. This fluid form narrows and widens to create tension with the enclosed courtyard but is rigid along the perimeter of the site, forming a well-defined edge. The building form stretches through a series of large pergolas to cover parts of the courtyard and to create a rather staged sequence of closed, open and semi open spaces.
POTIROPOULOS and PARTNERS's Serpentine House Residence exemplifies the continuing vitality of Mediterranean modernist traditions, wherein architectural form emerges from thoughtful dialogue between built structure and natural landscape, the work demonstrates sophisticated understanding of horizontal massing strategies that have characterized residential architecture in temperate climates from the early twentieth century through contemporary practice, each terraced level creates generous outdoor living spaces that blur conventional boundaries between interior and exterior realms while the deep overhangs provide essential solar protection during intense summer months, the material palette speaks to enduring regional building traditions with stone cladding suggesting permanence and rootedness while warm timber elements introduce human warmth and tactile pleasure, the vertical louver system represents thoughtful environmental response offering adjustable solar control and privacy gradation without sacrificing connection to the surrounding garden, compositionally the residence achieves remarkable balance between assertive architectural presence and contextual sensitivity as the horizontal bands echo the natural stratification of geological formations while the stepping profile reduces apparent mass when viewed from approach, the integration of mature olive trees and indigenous plantings demonstrates commitment to ecological continuity and landscape preservation, the arrival sequence orchestrated through the garden creates ceremonial approach that heightens appreciation of architectural achievement, one might observe how the work participates in broader conversations about sustainable luxury and environmental responsibility while maintaining commitment to formal excellence and spatial generosity, the viewer is invited to contemplate how architecture might simultaneously celebrate human aspiration toward beauty and comfort while honoring the natural systems within which all building takes place.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Located in one of the South suburbs of Athens in a promising area the site sits between the seacoast and the old airport an area defined by large plots of land with low rise residential buildings and in relative scarcity of urban reference points of the surrounding scenery.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Large openings that punch the fluid form, reframe and narrate the act of inhabiting highlighting the buildings connection with nature all flood with natural light.
- Tags
- architetcure, residential, house, Greece, design
- Production Technology
- The building form streches through a series of large canopies to cover parts of the courtyard and to create a rather staged sequence of closed, open and semi open spaces, where at the same time seekind different levels of transparency and opacity with large openings towards the garden.
- Design Challenge
- The main challenge was the positioning and articulation of the building, as well as the interaction of the flows in the various spaces. Strategically placed at the centre of the articulated building form and intended to act as a meeting point is the kitchen, where one can oversee the formal and informal activities as part of everyday life.
- Project Duration
- LOCATION: Hellinikon, Athens Greece
DESIGN: 2022 - Operation Flow
- The building programme is spread over two floors with the main living areas in the ground floor and the sleeping areas on the upper floor, along with the family room, to keep the noise levels in control, with the exception of the master bedroom which is located in an a private corner of the ground floor plan, taking advantage of the orientation, and with direct access to a secluded area of the garden and the swimming pool, for those warm summer nights.
- Research
- The architectural gesture of a long L shaped flowing form along the two main edges of the site seeks to create a threshold between the surrounding scenery and the resulting negative, a courtyard of similar scale to the building footprint. This fluid form narrows and widens to create tension with the enclosed courtyard but is rigid along the perimeter of the site, forming a well-defined edge.
- Inspiration
- The form of the house narrows and widens to create tension with the enclosed courtyard but is rigid along the perimeter of the site, forming a well defined edge, opposing the absence of any relationship with the context. The curved edges of the building soften the rigid appearance towards the surroundings while the courtyard and the external scenery are connected in a balanced synergy.
- Image Credits
- 3D VISUALIZATION
Batis Studio