NIKOLAOS ANTONOULIS
TO LOVE
"To Love" is a love story between two people that takes place on the designed mixed-used residential, commercial and adjoined workplace design.
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How is human habitation defined in the 21st century?
Despite technological advances, we still live today as we did 2000 years ago, in caves with a small opening and fire; what we call a well-insulated airtight house with heating units. And unlike the early civilizations where caves were part of nature, we live in cities deprived of it only to visit the countryside or a park once a week.
This design is an attempt to contradict this norm by bringing nature and daylight into any inhabited space while using passive design for heating and regionality.
A south-facing greenhouse creates the opportunity for plant growth and a buffer/transition zone of median temperature between the residential units and the outdoor environment. The solar gains are increased and the hot air that rises is collected, refreshed, and redirected to the housing units for heating by a heat recovery system.
1.5. wide lightwells span from south to north between the housing units to illuminate all rooms with natural daylight while providing air circulation and cooling. The lightwells and at least two sides on every room are covered with plants with the intention to create a feeling of living in nature while being in a city.
Cantilevered timber bays at the south serve both as balconies in the buffer zone and as sitting spaces in the living room. They are fitted with counterweight glass units that can be entirely opened on warm days to create a big open room.
The material selection, the greenhouse/conservatory and the - castle drawbridge inspired- bays bring a sense of regionality to the design.