Family house in Nio Chorio Apokoronas, Chania Crete- Greece

Surface: 125sqm
1 storey house with πατάρι
Architect and supervision of works: Zeta Chrysafaki
                                                         Arts and Crafts Village, laboratory No 33
                                                         Souda, 73100 Chania Crete
Civil engineer : Eleftheria Tsakanika
Constructor: Axel Trillhaase
Owner: Michalis Katakis                                                         
Construction time: June 2013- June 2014

The house is designed for a 4 member family. It is placed in the village of Nio Chorio in the municipality of Apokoronas on a plot of 876spm. The climate in this area is characterized from very warm summers with temperatures that reach 39 degrees Celsium and mild winters with temperatures that rarely fall under 10 degrees Celsium, wind, rain and quite high humidity.

Bioclimatic principles have been applied for the basic plan of the house: big openings in the south, small openings in the north, passive air circulation, good insulation of walls and roof. Southern windows will be protected from the sun with outdoor pergolas covered with local plants such as wineyards.

The foundations are made of beton. For the load-bearing struction it is used glue-laminated timber of small dimentions (10 X 10, 5 X 10 etc) with metal joints. In Greece the static analysis of any structure has to obey to the National Antiseismic Code, due to often earthquakes.

The material chosen for the construction of the walls had to fulfill following needs: had to be economical and ecological, had to be easily worked from non expetised workers and self-construction, had to be highly insulative, equillibrate high humidity and assure cool indoor environment in the summer. The lightclay walls of 30 cm thickness and 500kg/m3 weight cover these expectations and provide not only a good insulation but also a high thermal capacity, which is very important for constructions in mediterranean climates. The walls were covered inside with a clay-lime-sand plaster and outside with a limeplaster, traditionally used in cretan constructures.

Pavements have been covered with tiles and wood. The heating system used is a energetic fire-place.

The house is expected to be ready in July 2014. For its construction only bare hands and hand machines were used.