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
