The Avlí Houses

Ona I Ona Architecture And Design

Avlí: Αυλή = courtyard
The project concerns the design of two holiday houses for two related families sharing a 607 sqm plot in Paralimni, Cyprus. The aim was to accommodate two summer residences within a single site, ensuring each family would have its own fully functional dwelling with adequate privacy and outdoor space. At the same time, the families wished to preserve their tradition of spending summers together, requiring a design that supports both autonomy and close seasonal cohabitation.
Departing from the typical semi-detached model, the design organizes the two homes around a shared central courtyard. One house is positioned toward the road and the other at the rear, forming an inward-looking composition. Access to both dwellings occurs through the courtyard, drawing from Cypriot vernacular architecture where domestic life unfolds around an internal yard mediating between public and private realms. The courtyard functions as entrance sequence, communal outdoor living space, and climatic regulator, incorporating a small swimming pool and shaded areas that promote natural cooling. Each house also includes a more private secondary outdoor space screened with movable bamboo panels for cross-ventilation and shaded microclimates. A three-meter-wide planting strip of native trees enhances environmental performance and landscape integration.
The result is a cohesive composition balancing collective gathering with individual retreat. The courtyard becomes the heart of the project — a shared open-air living room that shapes movement, interaction, and climate — proposing a new model of shared summer living. Inward-oriented façades with carefully positioned openings preserve privacy while reinforcing a shared architectural identity.

Project Gallery

Entrance View

Inner Courtyard view

Outdoor side View

Inner Courtyard view

Interior View

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Ona I Ona Architecture And Design CY

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