AGIOU ANDREOU HOUSE Alexandra Theofanidis Thesis Portfolio
thesis statement
My thesis is an artist’s residence and cultural center in the heart of Old Town, Limassol that will focus on bringing like-minded individuals, both local and foreign, together to create and connect; as well as to embrace the rich history and culture of Cyprus. It will consist of artist studios, private suites, a cafe, exhibit space, a retail space and an outdoor area.
Why Cyprus?
turkey
• Cyprus is a small island country; sometimes unknown to the average person, but it is a nation full of history that dates back to the 10th millennium BC.
• Being in the middle of the Mediterranean provides a strategic location for the little
syria
island, connecting Europe to the Middle East. For centuries surrounding cultures from the Venetians to the Ottomans have tried to take the land for themselves. This has created a rich platform for the Cypriot culture.
• Cyprus today is still witnessing this territorial vulnerability especially after the 1974 Turkish invasion that left the island country divided between the Greek-Cypriots and the Turkish. Currently, Russians are using Cyprus for it’s opportune location to evade taxes. Although clearly corrupt, the Russian’s have aided the economic development after the 2013 crisis, especially in the coastal city of Limassol. I want to piggyback on the growing recognition of the country’s development, and make sure that it stays true to its defined history and heritage while this expansion continues.
cyprus
mediterranean sea
lebanon
SITE ANALYSIS
anaxartisias street view
agiou andreou street view
Promenade
Limassol Marina
The site is on the corner of a popular pedestrian street, Agiou Andreou & busy motor road, Anexartisias.
site
It is located in the heart of the ancient city of Limassol, in proximity of the newly developed marina and promenade.
DESIGN CONCEPTS The approach to my concept revolves around the historic perspective of Cyprus. I did not wanted to literally evoke how a culture is expressed, but instead conceptually convey how a country's heritage can impact the architecture.
layering
famagusta gate Nicosia, Cyprus
how can you express a culture architecturally?
disruption
tadao ando punta della dogana Venice, Italy
foundation
oab, rectoria de la selva Seville, Spain
agiou andreou view perspective
architectural disruption
european oak
local limestone
paint
stucco
roof plan
addition diagram
1
entry perspective
PROGRAMMING 1. center entry 2. cafe 3. back bar 4. reception 5. elevator 6. fire stairs 7. storage 8. retail space 9. retail check out 10. monumental stair 11. ada bathroom 12. courtyard 13. boh office space 14. cafe kitchen 15. mezz gallery 16. main exhibition space 17. multipurpose space
B
public
anexartisias
1
9
4
8
5 4
6
agiou andreou
2
7
3 13 8 open to above
11
9
10 3
2
1
14
6
2
1
A
4
5 12
open to be
low
7 6
3
5
4
A
B
first floor plan
private
1. residence entry 2. fire stairs 3. elevator 4. storage 5. communal bathroom 6. intervention stairs 7. sculptural studio 8. ceramic studio 9. painting studio 10. greek Suite 11. franco suite 12. ottoman suite 13. venetian suite 14. second floor entry 15. common space
perspective markers
open to below
6 15
mezzanine floor plan
2
3
first floor
reception perspective
back bar perspective
first floor ff&e
ottoman suite
venetian suite
main gallery
section a
ceramic studio
CUSTOM RECEPTION DESK custom reception desk representing the foundation of the Greek heritage
sculpture studio
cultural center entry
4
artist studio perspective
artist studio ff&e
5
ceramic studio perspective
gallery spaces
level attic, 32’
level 02, 15’- 4”
level mezz, 7’
level 1, 0’
level 0, -7’
section b
encaustic tile
limestone flooring
existing field stone
barstool fabric
walnut veneer
mezzanine & second floor
6
7
main gallery perspective
mezzanine gallery perspective
courtyard perspective
private
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
fire stairs elevator second floor entrance greek suite franco suite ottoman suite venetian suite common space
10
6
5
9
4
8
1
private circulation stair
2 7 3
8 open to below
public circulation stair
4 5
7 open to below
public
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
elevator fire stairs bathrooms main exhibition space multipurpose space
second floor plan
perspective markers
artist suite Each artist suite represents the main cultures that have influenced the Cypriot aesthetic throughout history: Greek, French, Venetian, and Ottoman.
9
8
artist suite atrium perspective
10
franco suite perspective
greek suite perspective
custom furniture mi-ky sideboard a sideboard inspired by ceramic form
golden sofa a modular sofa inspired by Fibonacci's golden ratio
plan view
7'-8"
2'-9" 10"
11" 1" 1'-72 1" 112
in dedication to my family