THE NEW Nicosia town hall will get underway next month, some 20 years after the decision was made to bring the municipal headquarters into the heart of the old town.
The announcement was made yesterday by Nicosia Mayor Eleni Mavrou during a presentation of the architectural plans for the building which will be constructed over the archaeological site that delayed construction for years.
“We want to send the message that antiquities are not a problem for development. They’re a benefit,” said Mavrou. “The transfer of the municipal headquarters to the old town will contribute strongly to the process of reactivating and reinforcing its role as the natural, traditional historical centre of Nicosia,” she added. The current town hall is situated on top of the bastion at Eleftheria Square.
Work on the new site, which is close to the municipal market, initially began in December 2002 but stopped soon after as the ancient ruins were uncovered. The municipality instructed the architects to readjust the plans to include the archaeological finds.
Now the site will be overlaid by a series of pedestrian pathways in a way that allows people to view the ruins.
The new town hall will be built at the heart of the historic centre within the walls, between Palia Elektriki, Epanisou and Isakiou Komninou Street. It will consist of several buildings under which all municipal services will be housed.
“It’s not just a one building but a series of buildings that are united and will comprise a public space that binds the history of the town,” said Margarita Kritioti, one of the architects involved, stressing the uniqueness of the building.
The project, which is set to begin next month, will take 24 months to complete, and will cost close to €12 million. The money will come from the Revitalisation Programme for areas along the Green Line “which aims to rejuvenate the divided centre without encumbering the environment.”
It is also part of a much bigger scheme including a redevelopment project for the old town and the Takt El Kale area. “We believe that the old town should be maintained like a living organism and take on an important role in the function of a contemporary city,” said Mavrou,
Mavrou highlighted the importance of the new Municipality as a space “open and welcome” to visitors, as well as encompassing “modern energy planning in harmonious co-existence with archaeological remnants.”
The design of the buildings aids in this by the creation of pedestrian paths that link the historical centre with the new buildings, as well as to its outdoor spaces.
According to Kritioti it will also be environmentally friendly in that it will use low amounts of energy and materials for the build will be from renewable sources.
