(i)The area of east and west walls was reduced to a minimum.
(ii)The windows should be placed in south walls and avoided in east and west walls. Small openings are provided in the north walls, mainly for natural ventilation purposes. Windows in the south walls should also be provided with shading devices that provide complete shading from direct solar radiation in summer but do not obstruct the low altitude sun radiation from penetrating building in winter.
(iii)Solar radiation absorbed by opaque building elements should be reduced to a minimum.  
(iv)The surroundings of buildings should be appropriately treated in order to reduce the values of reflected solar radiation striking the walls.

The high values of outdoor shade air temperatures during summer days, and the low values of these temperatures during winter days, together with the relatively low temperatures during summer and winter might require that:

(i)The area of the windows was reduced to a minimum in order to avoid any excessive convective heat gain or loss.  Where large windows are required they should be provided with double-glazing, heat-reflecting and absorbing glass, blinds and curtains.
(ii)The windows be appropriately controlled during the day and night in order to make use of the cool outdoor air during summer night, and to avoid the high outdoor temperature during summer days, and moreover, to increase heat gain from the sun during winter days and limit heat-loss during winter nights.

The high values of both solar radiation and outdoor shade air temperature during the day in summer and most days in winter and the relatively low temperatures at night require that:

(i)Opaque building elements be of high thermal capacity and subsequently have an appropriate time-lag and low decrement factor, in order to reduce to a minimum the heat passing through, and in particular to prevent heat emission into buildings during the daytime in summer.
(ii)Alternatively, if opaque building elements cannot be well insulated in order to obstruct heat from penetrating.  The insulation may also be only a cavity.

Upon constructing the Experimental Solar House, it was decided that the house should follow the most suitable combination of design parameters of a contemporary Cypriot home. These are:

Wall construction type:  100x250x300mm brick and 70mm of expanded polystyrene on the exterior, with three layers of plaster on the interior and Adesilex FIS 13 on the exterior sides (U-value 0.296 W/mxk - Type 6), since it effectively insulates the whole structure and avoids thermal bridges where the columns and beams occur.

Roof Type: 150mm concrete, 600mm air gap, 3mm water insulation and 100mm of expanded polystyrene on the exterior, with three layers of plaster on the interior and 50mm on the exterior (U-value x 0.28 W/mxk - Type 3), since it retains heat (thermal mass) and takes advantage of the reverse beam structure of the roof.

External vertical louvers: Not used, as they are not 100% suitable, due to the high construction cost and permanent view obstruction of the east and west façade of the house.

Permanent shading devices: The second floor bedroom windows on the southeast and south walls were recessed to prevent summer sun from entering, but allowing winter warmth to enter.

Extreme overheated periods: Roof fans are used to assure no overheating would occur.


Following the design requirements of a contemporary Cypriot home the house was constructed as thus: concrete frame, floors and roof, brickwork on the exterior and interior walls. The house covered an area of 223mx, and was rectangle (1:1.33) in shape.