TYPE: Typological research and design project for habitation | LOCATION: Near Ancient Salamis, Famagusta, Cyprus | ARCHITECT: Panos Koulermos | COLLABORATORS: Maria Georgiou, Panos Leventis
This project was part of an intense typological research and architectural design process for habitation in the historical and socio-geographic space of Greece. Sources of inspiration and influences for the formation of ideas in designing these twelve houses can be grouped into four categories: Mythological themes, surrounding landscapes, specific historic/architectural contexts, and vernacular typologies. House 1, situated near the ruins of Ancient Salamis, north of the city of Famagusta in Cyprus, belongs to this latter group. In this project, the merging of the classical Greek Stoa with the vernacular Cypriot Dihoro (an attached pair of longitudinal volumes defining a semi-enclosed courtyard) results in a multifaceted complex that retains clear volumes which open to the yard and landscape beyond.
TYPE: National Parliament Building [International Architectural Competition] | LOCATION: Corner of Severi and Demetriou Streets, Nicosia, Cyprus | ARCHITECTS: Panos Koulermos, Vassilis Ieridis | COLLABORATORS: Haris Christidis, Vicky Emmanouilidou, Eleni Katsoufi, Panos Leventis
The symbolism for this design is emphasized by the separation of the programmatic requirements in two primary volumes: the austere volume of the offices, which refers to the urban landscape by its successions of solids and voids and its interior courtyards, and the volume of the Parliament itself, an extroverted and open temple dedicated to Democracy. This second volume is an open building along its main axis: two parallel walls support the structure and the load of the ‘suspended’ main Parliament hall, and include all required secondary functions, thus allowing for an undisturbed and obstacle-free path along the main axis. This path is common for both users of and visitors to this linear heart of civic life. The circulation of the complex itself opens into the adjoining main square, emphasizing its character and reconfirming its urban use and purpose.
TYPE: New Office Building in an Educational/Research Campus | LOCATION: FORTH Campus, Heraklion, Crete, Greece | ARCHITECT: Panos Koulermos | COLLABORATORS: Haris Christidis, Panos Leventis
TYPE: Urban/typological design for a 1500 unit residential development | LOCATION: Hiroshima, Japan | ARCHITECT: Panos Koulermos | COLLABORATORS: Panos Leventis, Jun Nagase, Kazuma Watanabe
The design considered the history and evolution of Hiroshima, the steep hillside and overall morphology of the site, and its orientation and views to the city. Required parameters included a breakup of the area into four development zones and a density of 200% floor-area ratio. Spatial order is created via a variety of residential units accommodated in buildings of diverse typology and height. The proposal consists of two interrelated organizational components. Two plazas were created in component A: The first plaza, adjacent to the main vehicular road and surrounded by shops, forms a community commercial center, while the second is sited at the midpoint of this component and utilizes a parking structure roof. Component B addresses the same criteria and provides large courtyard spaces for gardens and social activity.