ΜΕΣΟΤΟΙΧΙΕΣ is a social housing concept composed of 23 parallel party walls

as part of an international competition, leonidas papalampropoulos and georgia syriopoulou have designed a social housing concept for larnaca, cyprus. the project, which took 2nd prize, is called ‘ΜΕΣΟΤΟΙΧΙΕΣ’ or ‘party walls’, and it seeks to combine two opposing ideas: standardization and individuality. 

north view of block a

images courtesy of leonidas papalampropoulos and georgia syriopoulou

to create a housing complex that is economic to build and affordable to users, the proposal integrates elements of standardization, repetition, homogeneity and modularity. on the other hand, to address the issue of individuality, the project also affords differentiation and democratization of the design by the creation of pluralistic architectural types.

the party walls and the infills

as the name of the project suggests, leonidas papalampropoulos and georgia syriopoulou have compounded these two ideas by using party walls (ΜΕΣΟΤΟΙΧΙΕΣ). through a tectonic system of segmentation and redistribution of land to the future users, the party walls simultaneously make space for the modification of the individual properties.

south view of block a

the design is composed of 23 parallel reinforced concrete walls. these walls define a series of micro-properties (row-housing typology) that in turn provide a multitude of house typologies. the individual residencies are formed as infills of the empty in-between space. the light, low-cost metal structure allows for adaptations and transformations according to the changing needs of its residents. this ‘party wall – infill’ system provides a sustainable social program where private residencies can be co-shaped by their owners or adapted in time as needed, thus amplifying the idea of the pluralistic city.

view of the living room

the complex includes two different typologies: vertical and horizontal. the vertical typology of 2 or 3 levels (T.02, T.03.a, T.04) occupies the majority of the complex and fills the slots between the separating party walls. they are accessed through the elevated south corridor and each of these residences can be rearranged internally and externally within the slot’s boundaries to fit the owners’ needs. the typical horizontal separation of the polykatoikia is applied vertically to form multiple private terraces. for the horizontal ground level typology (T.03.b), the reinforced concrete base forms residencies on the ground floor with a protected private garden.

view of the bedroom

the proposal follows the topography, geometry, and the specific characteristics of each site. for complex A, the elongated shape of the site defines the spatial arrangement of the building. the solid body of the adjacent existing residences forms a visual barrier, thus guiding the placement of the circulation and access towards the block on the south boundary. the public space in form of a garden surrounds the block, offering an extended green space. for complex B, the allocation of the block allows the unification of the site’s green space with the adjacent park, therefore, creating a wider public entrance space to the latter and reinforcing its presence.

the private garden [T.03.b]

the building’s structural system follows the spatial and conceptual structure of the architectural proposal: the foundation, basement walls, the vertical party walls and the basement and ground floor slabs are reinforced concrete. the infills consist of standardized metal structural elements and compound slabs.

the private terrace

axonometric view of the complex

plans and elevations of block a

perspective section 1/2

perspective section 2/2

apartment typologies

project info:

project name: ΜΕΣΟΤΟΙΧΙΕΣ / party walls

type: international architectural competition / 2nd prize / cyprus land development corporation

program: social housing complex

location: larnaca, cyprus

design team: leonidas papalampropoulos, georgia syriopoulou

size: 29,063ft2 (2,700m2)

year: 2020

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.