APPROACHES

We have an extensive history of hotel and resort masterplanning and architectural design and delivery, both in Cyprus and in the region. Having worked on projects in Croatia, Abu Dhabi, Greece, Spain, Trinidad, Lithuania, Dubai and Malaysia, for operators such as Radisson, Park Plaza, Marriot, Hilton, Raffles and Ritz Carlton, we inherently know what will make a resort or hotel work in each given situation, and what can give each building that extra special flair from its competitors, in this very competitive market.

For PPA, hotel and resort design is about applying design techniques and knowledge which have been refined over many years, whilst at the same time creating something very new, and very contemporary and individual for every project, to suit each challenge and contemporary modes of use – to enable a guest to feel special, relaxed and individually catered for every time, whether business or resort hotel, or in urban or rural settings. Inherently, hotel design is very rational, but there needs to be both the unexpected and wonder in each design proposal, to take each hotel to a special, different level, in our view.

Strong branding identities, through ground breaking design work, and creating ‘home-away-from-home comfort’ and ‘work-life-escape environments’ are the threads running through our work.

BUSINESS SPACE

Designing working environments is very much a science, in modern times. We bring our extensive experience of working with blue chip clients in the UK, and being deeply associated with British Council of Offices design research and guideline ways of working, to the table with each new challenge. Having deep understanding of space planning, sustainable solutions, use of natural lighting and ventilation, along with contemporary façade systems and solar-shading and night cooling ‘rapid-venting’ (at the specification ‘top end’), allows us to deliver state-of-the-art buildings to suit each projects specific climate.

For PPA, business space design is inherently tied to healthy-working strategies and holistic, company-specific, working methodology assessments, which we work up in detail with client design-steering groups. Our office buildings always consider the balance of work, break-out and gather spaces necessary for each company, or department within the company, to work to their optimal. We often incorporate complimentary external and internal open spaces (whether part of the building site planning or raised in elevation as sky gardens) to allow employees and visitors to ‘recharge their batteries’, and have the opportunity for relaxed informal meet-ups. We want to maximise the performance of our buildings, both in terms of energy footprint and also staff workplace satisfaction and performance. Good office design can pay huge dividends to companies.

Office buildings make important statements about their occupants, on a business level. It is very important to work closely with our clients to ensure ‘the building fits the message’.

RESIDENTIAL COMPLEXES AND PRIVATE RESIDENCES

Designing homes has never been more interesting, or more complex. Contemporary home design needs to consider concepts such as home-as-workplace, lifetime-homes as well as home-as-hotel, and homes as investment vehicles.

Designing a good home, a place-for-living, means deeply understanding how people use spaces, and how to optimally design to suit the homeowner, for now and for the future. The smallest design decisions can have major impact on the occupant’s day-to-day lives. As such, for PPA, residential complex design involves a process of distillation and refinement, to take layouts and arrangements to the optimal level of usability, adaptability and suitability, through rigorous design development and review. Not only does this produce excellent homes it also produces the most efficient solution for the developer.

Whether designing a studio apartment or the penthouse within a complex, or to a budget of €250,000 or €15 million for an individual private residence as we have on our boards currently, each PPA home is designed with the same level of dedication, attention to detail and individual character.

For private home designs we ideally get to know our clients very intimately, and always take the time to deeply explore and research what their perfect home will be. The architect-client relationship is hugely important for such endeavours, and these very personal projects are often the most rewarding you can have as an architect.

TRANSPORTATION

PPA has particular experience of airport, marina and cruise terminal projects. Such transport related design is an art of understanding interwoven mobility systems, of people, baggage and vehicles, and how to maximise their efficiencies and the experience of all users involved – whether they be the public, staff or operators. It is also an art of giving what are almost always large architectural spaces a sense of scale and individual character, which will give the passenger a good user experience, give a clear, memorable identity to each facility, and very importantly be cost effective and flexible for the future. No matter how big the facility it will always be the elements you touch and interact with which characterise the user experience, so these need to be carefully considered and delivered.

MIXED-USE

Mixing uses in a project poses various challenges but, when designed well, each use will be mutually beneficial and add to the success of the development. Mixed-Use design is a particular skill of PPA, having undertaken many major projects involving interweaving residential, hospitality, retail and entertainment uses together, particularly on tight urban sites.

One of the key challenges and focusses for us for mixed-use projects is the provision of open spaces and public, semi-public and private areas, and how to either separate or allow the mixing of uses, as appropriate, to mutual benefit. We are always mindful of the inspiration of the cities of the Far East, where mixed-use is at its most extreme, fully using vertical splits in uses and sky lobbies and sky decks to manage the mixing of uses, whilst giving each its own space to breathe.