Location: Walled City

  • ΝΙCOSIA MUNICIPALITY

    ΝΙCOSIA MUNICIPALITY

    In the heart of the walled city of Nicosia, the new Town Hall establishes a transparent interface between civic authority and public life. Encouraging participation and exchange, the building settles among archaeological remains that embody the layered history of the divided city. From the top floor, a panoramic view opens across Nicosia. Respectful of the materiality and scale of its historic surroundings, the project introduces a contemporary architectural language informed by passive environmental strategies. Conceived as a flexible civic platform, the building accommodates a wide range of public events and independent activities. At night the hall glows as a ‘magic lantern’, becoming a visible catalyst for the regeneration of the surrounding area. Designed by Richard Dickon Irwin and Margarita Kritioti, the building received the Cyprus State Architecture Prize (2026) for ‘Outstanding Architectural Work’.

    Photos: Richard Dickon Irwin

  • THE LEVENTIS MUNICIPAL MUSEUM OF NICOSIA

    THE LEVENTIS MUNICIPAL MUSEUM OF NICOSIA

    The Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia is housed in a complex of three 19th-century neoclassical buildings, originally constructed as private residences for affluent families. Over time, the buildings underwent various transformations, accommodating residential, commercial, and other uses, reflecting the evolving history of the city. In the late 20th century, the complex was restored and adaptively reused as a museum, which opened in 1989. Today, through a rich collection of over 10,000 objects—including maps, documents, paintings, and costumes, the museum narrates the history of Nicosia from prehistoric times to the present. It also functions as an active cultural institution, offering exhibitions and educational programs. In 1991, it was awarded the European Museum of the Year Award.

    Photos: The Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia

  • AKELIUS OFFICES & APARTMENTS

    AKELIUS OFFICES & APARTMENTS

    Originally designed in 1955 by architect Panayiotis Stavrinides, this modernist building in the heart of Nicosia’s historic centre has been carefully restored and adapted by Economou Architects+Designers. The project transforms the former Glyki Arcade into a mixed-use development combining office spaces, long-term rental apartments and shared areas for residents and employees. At street level, the fragmented retail layout was reconfigured into open office spaces organised around the historic arcade, which now functions as a meeting and social space. The restoration preserves key elements of Cypriot modernist architecture, including the curved corner volume, mosaic-clad projection and stone façade. A new upper floor and rooftop garden introduce contemporary living spaces while maintaining a respectful dialogue with the original structure and the surrounding historic fabric.

    Photos: Akelius

  • CYPRUS ARCHITECTS ASSOCIATION BUILDING

    CYPRUS ARCHITECTS ASSOCIATION BUILDING

    The building of the Cyprus Architects Association is a listed structure of approximately 80 years old, located on Konstantinou Palaiologou Street within the historic walled city of Nicosia. Its restoration and adaptive reuse were completed in 2020, carefully preserving its form, materials, and spatial character while transforming it into a contemporary workspace. Organised across three levels, the building features two separate entrances that define its layout, hosting meeting spaces, offices and supporting facilities. Through careful restoration and adoptive reuse, the project reactivates a historic structure within the urban fabric of Nicosia’s old city.

    Photos: Cyprus Architects Association

  • THE CYPRUS ETHNOLOGICAL MUSEUM (THE HADJIGEORGAKIS KORNESIOS MANSION)

    THE CYPRUS ETHNOLOGICAL MUSEUM (THE HADJIGEORGAKIS KORNESIOS MANSION)

    The Mansion of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios is one of the most significant examples of urban architecture from the Ottoman period in Nicosia. It is located within the walls of the Old City, near the Archbishop’s Palace, in the parish of Saint Antonios—an area traditionally associated with the residence of the affluent Greek population.

    Of particular interest is its architectural typology, which refers to mansions of the medieval period. This characteristic is further supported by the tradition that the building was erected on the site of an earlier, possibly medieval, residence.
    Repair and maintenance works on parts of the mansion have been carried out periodically by the Department of Antiquities since 1949. The most extensive and comprehensive conservation and restoration project began in 1981. The final restoration of the house was awarded the Europa Nostra prize, highlighting its importance as part of the cultural heritage.

    Photos: The Cyprus Ethnological Museum