Work begins on new Nicosia town hall

13:47 WORK began on Nicosia’s new town hall today, almost 20 years after the municipality first chose to relocate into the heart of old town.

The planned 6,500 square metre building – designed by Irwin and Kritioti Architects and built by LOIS Construction is due to be ready in June 2013. It consists of two groups of buildings, which will house all the city services and join up with the old municipal market, old municipal baths and a new building.

According to the architects’ plan, the design features open cloisters, green areas in which the public and organisations can hold events. “It is not just one building but a series of buildings that are united and will comprise a public space that binds the history of the town,” said one of the architects Margarita Kritioti.

It has been almost 20 years since the decision was taken to move the town hall from the Eleftheria bastion to the heart of old town. In December 2002 construction began but was soon stopped when builders discovered ancient ruins buried under the site.

The municipality instructed the architects to readjust the plans to include the archaeological finds, which will be visible from pedestrian pathways.

Nicosia Mayor Eleni Mavrou said of the project last month: “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.

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,

 

 

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