concrete slabs twist + turn to frame views in aristides dallas architects' casa 55 in cyprus

aristides dallas architects’ first international project

situated in a hilly suburb of limassol (lemesos), cyprus, ‘casa 55’ by aristides dallas architects draws from its site’s rocky conditions and vast, overarching views towards land and sea. marking the greek studio’s first international effort, the concrete residence develops through the overlapping of angles and the juxtaposition of triangular shapes. embracing the strict geometry of the site, the house is grounded in a natural limestone podium. part of the island’s existing landscape, this massive pedestal gets hollowed out to define indoor volume, resembling a modern cave.

images by katerina iakovaki architectural visualisation, all courtesy of aristides dallas architects

casa 55 emerges from the rocky landscape of cyprus

‘the design process has focused on conceptual clarity, atmospheric spatial experiences and sensorial materiality: it is a manifesto that embodies the core values of our practice,’ notes aristides dallas architects on the design of ‘casa 55’. the practice, with offices both in athens and tinos island, developed its first international project with attention to the unique characteristics of the surrounding terrain. the home features a series of overlapping angles and a field of view that spans 55 degrees (hence its name). slight rotations in the orientation allow each level to have a specific focus.

‘casa 55’ twists and turns to expose and maximize the potential views, developing an articulate spatial system.

spaces evolve constantly through the building: they are compressed and excavated, then airy and boundary-less.

the distinction between indoor and outdoor becomes immaterial and seamless, while an architectural promenade unravels all throughout the residence. a massive presence in the landscape, the natural limestone podium gets hollowed out to define interior spaces. at the same time, the expressive materiality of the concrete slabs and the slender pilotis contribute to enhance the floating quality of the structure.

casa 55 rests on a rocky landscape