This project was developed in collaboration with architect Ben Hansen and Savvas Havatzias as a local architect from HAKA Architects .

Almond Tree House is located in a quiet, rural site in central Cyprus surrounded by forests and mountains. The design intent was to work with orientation, climate and local materials to create a modern, sustainable home that responds intuitively to context and topography.

The house is carefully positioned on a north-south axis to take advantage of dramatic views while responding to local conditions by controlling shading and solar gain to reduce energy consumption and create pleasant microclimates.

The floorplan is designed in a U-Form, reflecting lessons learned from successful local vernacular building forms. This allows the programme to be divided into three clear parts – Entrance and Kitchen, Public Social, and Private Sleeping. The U-Form encloses a shady central courtyard creating a cool, communal heart to the house, protected from the wind and the hot summer sun. A variety of trellises, smaller terraces and a pool complete the outdoor living spaces.

Inside, the house is open plan and filled with natural light from windows, carefully positioned to avoid allowing direct sunlight into the space. The house is centred around a large double height living room with fireplace. Smaller, more intimate bedrooms are tucked into a quieter private wing, while upstairs there is an office and study space looking out across the beautiful Cypriot landscape.