Syn-axes

From “synaxis” < «σύναξις» (greek): gathering of people in a predetermined space

The design proposal concerns the design of two ground-floor residences in Rio Achaia, with the aim of hosting different members of the same family. The main challenge of the composition was to achieve a balance between the unhindered communication of the residents and the preservation of the privacy of each residence.

The main point of the design was the semantic and functional division of an initial single residence into two autonomous, but interconnected units – an act that reflects the dipole privacy – connection, and is directly linked to the concept of “syn-axis”: a common component that unites, but does not homogenize.

The layout of the residences emerged taking into account, on the one hand, the above design principles, and on the other hand, the rectangular shape of the plot. Two imaginary axes – horizontal and vertical – determine the functional and semantic separation of the spaces: The horizontal axis is perceived as the public, the zone of communication,while the vertical axis functions as the private zone, of isolation and quiet.

Based on this logic, the two residences are organized:

In the couple’s residence and in the mother’s neighboring residence, the living spaces (living room, kitchen, dining room) are placed along the horizontal axis, enhancing the connection and visual contact between them. Correspondingly, the sleeping spaces (bedrooms) are developed along the vertical axis, strengthening the sense of privacy.

Thus, an imaginary cruciform system is formed:

By a horizontal zone of communication (syn-axis), and a vertical zone of privacy, which intersect but do not cancel each other out.

Particular emphasis was given to House A, where the two main walls of uncoated concrete intensify the sense of vertical and horizontal axes. This material, in contrast to the white thermal facade of the rest of the shell, makes the walls the dominant elements of the synthetic discourse, underlining the tension between material and semantic separation.

The architectural proposal ultimately interprets contemporary habitation as a dynamic gathering – a balance between proximity and autonomy, personal and public

Photography: Mariana Bisti