Solar Village 3
Complex of 435 solar houses built by the Workers’ Housing Organisation (OEK)

Lykovrysi Attica, 1978-89

Architects
Alexandros N. Tombazis and Associates



Solar Village 3 was an ambitious experiment in implementing the principles of bioclimatic planning to the realm of social housing. In applying these principles, the designers sought to cover the energy needs of the dwellings in the complex, to create a comfortable environment for its users and to upgrade the specifications for social housing. In practice the experiment was not vindicated, but confirmed the chasm existing between the bureaucracy of the client, OEK and the advanced concept of the architect Alexandros Tombazis.
This OEK complex is a settlement with 435 dwelling units. The units, which have an area of 60, 80 and 100 m2, are laid out in buildings ranging from 2 to 6 storeys. The buildings are joined together in pairs by vertical circulation nodes. The plans of the apartments have a typical layout with a clear distinction of the functions; the needs for heating and hot water are covered by the use of solar energy. This also holds for the public areas, i.e. the shopping and social centre, library, day care centre, kindergarten and elementary school.
The design made provision for five different types of active solar energy systems, using flat plate water collectors, vacuum tube collectors, heat pumps, air collectors and interseasonal storage. There are 32 units heated with passive solar systems of various types, such as direct-gain, Trombe walls, water walls, sunspaces and TAPs.

TRANSPORTATION