Michalis Anastasiou
Biography
ABOUT
Anastasiou Misseri is a design-led architectural practice based in Nicosia, Cyprus, committed to designing and delivering inventive high-quality projects.
Founded in 2020 by Michalis Anastasiou and Stephanie Misseri, the practice has a growing portfolio of diverse architectural and design projects across varying scales and complexities. We undertake every stage of the process with a focus on achieving high-quality finishes through design detailing and coordination.
The practice has received several awards for projects, including Melanos Watchtower, Asprochomata Residence, and Kaimakli Residence.
AWARDS
- Honorable Mention for Kaimakli Residence in the Architectural Prize in Memory of Alexis Theodosiadis Honorable Mention for Melanos Watchtower at the Cyprus State Awards 2022 Distinction for Akamas Visitor Centres at the 10th Biennale of Young Greek Architects
PROJECTS TO BE PRESENTED DURING THE EVENT
Project #1: Kaimakli Residence
Start year: 20.06.2020
This project seeks the restoration and enhancement of an abandoned listed building, as well as its extension, transforming it into a modern residence for the new owners. The property is situated at the end of a row of single-storey terraces that maintain large Mediterranean gardens at the rear of their plots. The listed building underwent a thorough restoration, including structural repairs, stone restoration and plaster replacement using traditional techniques and a complete replacement of the roof and wooden beams. The materials used remained faithful to the original design, such as the reconstruction of timber window frames and replacement of handmade cement tiles. The main entrance room was transformed into the dining space whilst the two adjacent rooms were transformed into the living room and study. A large kitchen, utility room and guest bathroom on the ground floor and two bedrooms with a bathroom on the first floor are contained within an extension situated at the rear of the existing building. A clear distinction between the old and the new was maintained, in both mass and materiality with a corridor bridging the two volumes, creating two internal courtyards on either side. The extension is constructed out of a steel frame, and the exposed beams enhance the spaciousness of the rooms. To harmonize the old with the new, colours from the listed property were incorporated into the extension’s finishes, including terrazzo flooring, staircase details, bathroom features, and kitchen design. Large openings across four functional facades seamlessly connect indoor and outdoor spaces, offering unobstructed views from the main entrance to the back garden. The design enhances spatial transitions, allowing natural light and the garden to become integral parts of the home.
Project #2: Makries Mires Residence
Start year: 10.02.2020
The project is situated on a narrow rectangular plot, within a new residential neighbourhood located on the outskirts of Nicosia. The surrounding buildings have adopted various architectural styles, appearances and sizes, laying the ground for the development of an independent language of architecture. The house has been organised under a table-like structure which is placed towards the front of the plot, maximising the size of the garden. The building is wrapped around by a concrete canopy, cast in-situ, protecting all openings from the sun and the rain while offering shelter to the exterior perimetric spaces. A 4-metre canopy projects outwards towards the garden, creating a covered veranda that rests on a singular concrete cylindrical column giving a grand essence of scale and proportion to the exterior space. The internal layout of the house is divided into two zones — the west zone, where the bedrooms enjoy the evening summer breeze, and the east zone where the living areas enjoy views of the landscape through large openings. A 17-metre long exposed concrete wall runs along the entire length of the house, becoming a sculptural feature as well as providing privacy between the two zones of the house which are connected through only two openings.
