Technical Aspects.
A 200 m long perimeter wall will enclose the
property. It will be about 1.8m high alongside the 'main' road
to the east (30m) and along the the access road towards the
neighbors Gilly and Jan (70m).
The outside walls of the buildings are 0.52m
thick, composed of the traditional double faced rows of stone
set in mortar, connecting like a closed zipper and providing
immense stability with a certain elasticity and superior insulation
against the summer heat. Walls like these, built centuries
ago in the area, are often still standing strong although the
builders used clay to bind the stones instead of mortar.
A single-brick wall, 0.08m thick, is built on the inside of
the stone wall with a gap of 0.04m between them which holds
Polystyrene insulation sheets and a cushion of air. This kind
of external wall combines the advantages of traditional Mani
building techniques (very cool in summer) with those of modern
insulation. This technique will be applied to the annex as
well as the house. There will be no bridge for humidity or
heat!
Interior brick walls and insulation
The roof and roof terrace are
insulated according to northern European standards. Although
our area is on the same latitude as Gibraltar and it enjoys
comparably mild winters, we have to be protected against the
warmth of summer.
The roof consists of many layers:
Wooden structure
On top: Kalamia (bamboo) the traditional, local material for
this purpose (having also nice insulation properties)
Then - a membrane foil
Then - 5cm of Polystyrene
Then - the 'katronia', wooden slats (5cm x 5cm), on which the
tiles will be screwed.
Then - between the wooden slats cut length slats from the above
Polystyrene (5cm thick); so we have altogether 10cm of Polystyrene
Then - a thick aluminum foil
Then - & finally - The so-called Roman Tiles, which under
their bend have a 5cm high & 10cm wide space in which air
may move, a final, additional insulation
3 lines of tiles rise above the edge of the wall (33cm), good
for guttering and to keep rain water away from the stone walls.
The
annex roof will be constructed exactly the same.
Kalamia insulated roof
The house and annex will have
'low temperature under floor heating' - maximum temperature
of water: 45C. Heat will be provided by thermal solar collectors
(20 m2, 'hidden' along the northern perimeter wall, we will
store 1.000 l of hot water - up to 90C - in a insulated tank)
and a small oil powered boiler (to add heat if necessary);
both together will provide hot water for tap use & underfloor
heating.
Click here to see details and
plans of the underfloor heating.
The roof terrace (48m2, net): insulated
by a 10cm Polystyrene slab below the concrete
Elegant bathrooms (3): Bathroom fittings from
Ideal Standard, Duravit, Hans Grohe, marble floors & walls,
basins custom made from marble and Copper pipes for hot & cold
water; we have water in abundance - tropic shower heads (I
love strong showers!).
Top end kitchen with an island, a kitchen like
a craftsman's studio workshop.
Integrated cupboards in bedrooms
Floors from yellow sand stone, as for all the
outside areas, terraces around the house and pool
Door and windows with shutters, French
doors with shutters, all from Merandi (farmed tropical wood),
factory built, German standard, double glazed, top quality.
We will collect and store rain water from the
roof & the roof terrace.
The Pool:
14m long, 3.8m wide, mostly 2m deep - not to
splash but to swim & exercise.
Overflow at 3 the sides, infinity towards the west
Holds about 110m3 of water
In addition a 30m3 water reservoir under the western pool terrace
There is also a 6m2 room for pool filters etc
Guest Studio & Storage:
There will be a 25m2 (net) guest room en suit
and a storage room at the northern end of the inner courtyard
(atrium); of course built from stone with a tiled roof;
storage for pool furniture and space for central heating and
a hot water reservoir etc
