APAP Adds Cantilevered Glass Pavilion to 1970s House

Architecture practice APAP has unveiled DIAGONAL, a residential extension attached to a dwelling built in the 1970s on an elevated, wooded plot in Nicosia, Cyprus. Moving away from the original home's structural layout defined by two parallel load-bearing walls, the project introduces an open pavilion formed by two horizontal planes that cantilever toward the central courtyard, creating a direct visual link to the surrounding tree canopy.

Conceived by APAP Studio without a strict functional brief, the open volume adapts to flexible domestic uses over time. Glazed perimeter walls capture shifting foliage shadows and sunlight throughout the day, turning the concrete and glass enclosure into a receptive surface for natural illumination.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

After dusk, the pavilion transforms through a custom four-part diagonal lighting armature suspended inside. The bespoke fixture utilizes three distinct color temperatures: very warm red light cast toward the sides, cool white light directed at the ceiling, and warm white light projected onto the floor. This lighting arrangement emphasizes the architectural diagonal without requiring physical interior walls.

The design team includes Alexis Papadopoulos and Maria Giannakou, working alongside civil engineer Allayiotis & Christodoulidou and contractor Innovative Construction Solutions. This project was submitted through designboom's reader contribution platform.

Source: designboom