The House of Pagona

The house of Pagona transforms the market limitations of a low-cost construction as well as certain typical wishes and regional references of its inhabitants into architecture. The residence is situated at Vari, a coastal suburb of Athens, beyond the Attica Basin, near the foothills of Mt. Hymettus. With a local climate of mild winters and hot summers, and a flat topography of an ancient salt-bed surrounded by hills, the building is surrounded by low density, contractor-built, single-family residences.

photography by © Irini Giotopoulou

The design of the project is defined by low-cost, sustainability and low-energy use requirements. It uses the materials and standard construction techniques of local contractors in non-standard ways. The project uses low-energy consumption and storage systems based on a time- vs. cost-effect ratio. Its environmental design is based on passive exposure and protection systems supported by solar energy collection and storage. The building volume is laid out so as to manage – protect from, expose and filter – direct solar radiation.

photography by © Irini Giotopoulou

As a result, the inhabitants experience vertical and horizontal sequences of different types of spaces, through various opening mechanisms. There are no surrounding exterior or typical garden spaces in the house of Pagona, only a variable progression of an oriented, potential exterior, covered or uncovered spaces.

photography by © Irini Giotopoulou

The architecture of the House of Pagona stands against the Modern movement: it translates the desires, needs, and possibilities of specific individuals into a complex spatial sequence of experiences and an architecture of the every day, sensually exciting, responding to the seasons through forms, proportions, scale and movement. It can be a different space, every day.

photography by © Irini Giotopoulou

Project Info
Architects: Smyrlis Architects
Location: Greece
Architect in Charge: Nikos Smyrlis
Area: 350.0 m2
Year: 2016
Type: Residential
Photographs: Irini Giotopoulou, Chrissoula Voulgari