Utopia is a residence located in the southern suburbs of Athens, Greece and demonstrates the ability of man to coexist with nature even in the most densely constructed areas of the city. The initial desire for privacy and filtered view trigger the design of a residence detached from the ground-level, enclosed from its surroundings but open to a large outdoor space of double height which hosts the tropical garden in the center.
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The parents and the children area are developed around the garden while on the upper floor the social and living areas have a visual continuity with it, allowing the residents to enjoy the sky during daytime or the moonlight in the night-time from their bed, the dining areas and the kitchen.
Perforated brick walls form the main cuboid-shaped body, helping the residence to breathe as breeze can get through the small holes of the brickwork. The facade regulates the sunlight and creates a shadow enclosure during summer. The pattern varies in density, depending on the amount of light and privacy required in the interior. At different times during the day, the variety of light intensity getting through, makes the brick wall colours change from red in the morning to more purple in the evening while at night the house acts as a big lantern.
