FESTOS RESIDENCE Heraklion, Crete

A modern residential property complex of minimal aesthetics, with swimming pools in Heraklion, Crete in the area of Mesampelies (Festou str).

In Crete, with a quiet and rapidly growing area, in Mesampelies, we created a residential complex that stands out with its highly aesthetic minimal architectural approach, and which reveals the intention to produce a property beyond all expectations.

The aim of the architectural design was simplicity in the oncology of the property. Following the modern trends of architecture and minimal aesthetics, combined with a sense of discreet luxury, this property was led to a solid and impressive, visually, result with simple and clear lines

The central idea of the composition was the creation of a property volume that is located around a basic reference axis. This element functionally placed the staircase as the core of the connection, while at the same time it created a balance in the alternation of the levels of the facades.

The challenge for the composition process was the coexistence of the main areas of the houses in a row, without interrupting their visual escapes, enhancing privacy and permeability.

Great emphasis was placed on the creation of a shell that communicates directly with the surrounding area, the green gardens, for exclusive use, the planted roof but also with the private pools that dominate the architectural study.

What was required in all areas of the ground floor was direct contact with the environment, both visually and functionally. The special property-landscape relationship is complemented by the interior views and escapes, while the white color, the large openings and the water were used in such a way as to highlight the architectural conception with an impressive result.

The pallet that forms the exterior of the property is white parapets and awnings that enclose the balconies with alternating rhythm, double shell awnings with the white surface on the lower side to assist the indirect lighting of the ground floor and dark upper side to avoid reflections to the floor areas, while the shell itself is preserved in earthy color tones.

All these elements follow a symmetry that characterizes the composition as a whole and gives visual harmony.

The lighting study also played a decisive role in the result of the design, which in this project was an integral part of the architectural composition from its early stages, incorporating in many parts of the study the concept of artificial led lighting with uniformity and capacity.

The challenge was the creation of a property of high standards, with the highest energy efficiency A+, which consistently serves the needs of its owners, with bright apartments that take full advantage of the orientations and large openings, strategically placed to combine the aesthetics and functionality of the whole individual spaces.

The apartments are distinguished by ergonomics and functionality in all areas. The kitchens and bathrooms are designed individually for each owner and the choice of materials is based on their needs and preferences.

The maximum energy classification of the property A + is achieved by the installation of photovoltaic systems with the main advantage of energy offset, energy frames, thermal facade 10cm and heating and cooling heat pumps.