CASE STUDY
NUMERO TRE
THE DETAILS
Development Type
Architecture Competition
Location
Nicosia, Cyprus
Architect
Arch E Studio
INITIAL REQUEST
Architecture Competitions! We love working on these projects because they often feature unique and interesting designs. This particular project began when the architect, Eftychia, contacted us to assist with their design for a school renovation in Nicosia, Cyprus. Despite the tight deadline of just one week, we made it work by staying in close communication. Eftychia provided feedback promptly at every stage, as she clearly understood the urgency of the project and the need for quick turnaround.
After our initial meeting, where we discussed the key elements she wanted to highlight, Eftychia sent us all the necessary information, including plans, sections, elevations, material choices, and moodboards. Once we had everything, we were ready to start working.
The entire preparation process, from the time Eftychia first contacted us to the moment we began, took just one working day.
CLAY RENDERINGS
Once we had all the materials, we quickly moved on to creating the clay models. Interestingly, while rendering one of the models, we discovered a small but striking design element that hadn't been fully highlighted in the original plans: a hidden playground. Eftychia had included it in the plans, but it was tucked away in such a way that it wasn’t immediately noticeable, to us at least.
After some discussion, we agreed to make this playground as one of the focal points, using it as one of the primary views for the final images. This decision completely changed the direction of the project, adding a layer of storytelling to the renovation we didn't anticipate.
We then created 9 clay models, carefully considering composition and key design elements. Each image presented a different perspective of the building, allowing for a range of visual storytelling options. Once the clay images were ready, it was up to Eftychia to choose the ones she liked most.
FIRST DRAFT
After Eftychia selected her preferred clay models, we moved forward with the first draft of the renderings. Typically, we aim to have the first draft about 85% complete, but since this was a competition and Eftychia was working on the project at the same time we were, the first drafts were at around 30% completion. This allowed for more flexibility and room for collaboration as the design evolved at the same time.
Our focus was still on bringing the project to life by adding initial textures, lighting, and materials that aligned with her vision. Once these early drafts were ready, we sent them over to Eftychia. She quickly provided feedback, pointing out a few adjustments and helping to guide the next steps of the process.
Despite the early stages of the draft and the short deadline, the project was already starting to take shape.
