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Exclusive Cyprus Properties
With over 30 years of property management experience in the UK, DND are passionate about quality and service. Whether you are seeking a retirement retreat now or in the future, a holiday home, or simply an excellent investment opportunity, you will find we have the answer.
Our mission is to create beautiful, desirable and high-quality homes representing excellent value for money. We design to combine the best of Mediterranean style with modern luxurious living.
Our award-winning Architect's exciting & innovative designs blend modern shapes & materials with traditional Cyprus styles & values to produce elegant yet practical living-space that harmonises with the surrounding environment.
Imaginative use of volumes and light combined with varied materials and textures stimulate the visual senses. The external layout of each plot maximises its potential and dedication to the development as a whole to augment the natural beauty of its surroundings.
The Judges Report
BEST CYPRIOT VILLA
GOLD:
SANTORINI VILLA -
DURO NEACHTAIN DEVELOPMENTS
It is extremely rare to see real innovative design and this small development of 12 houses about 15 minutes east of Paphos, was not only deemed terrific value at CYP£125,000 for a 3 bed house with pool, but also something very special in terms of its architecture.
Young local architect Andreas Vardas has avoided the somewhat safer pastiche of holiday homes, with "typical" features like pitched roofs that have no relevance in this part of Cyprus. He has drawn from the local vernacular where possible, carefully adding more contemporary curves and small windows to frame views of the sea and hill, while avioding unnecessary heat build up during the summer months.
The first floor rooms feature higher than expected vaulted ceilings and two naturally crss ventilating balconies - one shaded and one in the sun.
The solid Modernist look has been softened by incorporating slits in balconies and soft low grey walls to the front of the houses, providing a setback. The villa relate well to one another, but undoubtedly would benefit fromlarger plot sizes to accord more privacy to residents. We look forward to seeing future brave designs from this bold architect, who currently is working on another DND project in the mountains. |
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BEST EXTERIOR DESIGN
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
SANTORINI VILLAS, CYPRUS -
DURO NEACHTAN DEVELOPMENTS
The judges found it difficult to shortlist i nthis category, as all entrants did not send in suitable material to help with the task. It goes without saying that to consider best exterior design, you need to see good photographs and plans and most of the information sent to us was either artists' illustrations or general information that did not pertain to the category. However, after visiting Santorini Villas in Cyprus, it has been decided to award a special commendation for innovative architecture in these Modernist houses designed by Yound Cypriot architect Andreas Vardas.
We were impressed that he has tried to do something different from the usual run-of-the-mill pastiches that unfortnatley already scatter too many of Cyprus's hillsides like a bas case of the measles. Drawing on earlier architecture in the area, Vardas has implemented pleasing curves with well-positioned windows and good attention to citing the best views from balconies and terraces. And what was really refreshing was how he has simply hid the ghastly water tanks that are often perched on top of the houses though the design of these very affordable and minimalist homes. |
Our Architect-
At DND we wanted an architect who was not only technically sound (UK trained/qualified), and well experienced yet sympathetic to the Cyprus environment, but also one who shares our passion for truly desirable homes that provide excellent value to the customer.
We were fortunate indeed to be introduced to Andreas Vardas. Possibly what impressed us more than his considerable technical & artistic skills and achievements was his philosophy and desire to produce "homes that are for people to live in, not just for them to buy."
His ability to combine beauty & style without compromising comfort & day-to-day practicality culminates in the outstanding, innovative award-winning designs that have become both his trademark and ours. As Andreas likes to say "...part of the Art of Architecture is attending to function before form so that you maximise the usable space, rather than drawing boxes into which people and their needs have to fit."
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