Nicosia, Cyprus. Nicosia municipality has launched an architectural competition for the €4.1 million redevelopment of the historic municipal garden, with the tender expected to be published at the end of summer. The project aims to restore and modernise one of the capital’s oldest public spaces while preserving its historical character.
Project plans
The project, presented at Nicosia town hall on Friday, has an estimated cost of €4.1 million excluding VAT.
Mayor Charalambos Prountzos described the initiative as “a substantial investment in the future of the city, and in the preservation of its historical and cultural heritage”.
He said the municipal garden has served as “a point of meeting, culture and daily life” for more than a century and remains a place of historical and emotional significance for generations of Nicosia residents.
Preservation and accessibility
Prountzos said redevelopment must respect the site’s architectural identity while meeting the needs of a modern city.
“Every intervention must respect the historical and architectural character of the space, and, where required, be reversible, so as to preserve its authenticity for future generations,” he said.
He added that public spaces should be safe, functional, accessible and environmentally friendly, referring to the municipality’s mandate to increase green spaces.
According to the mayor, more than 22,500 new trees have been planted across the city over the past two years.
Historic significance
Municipal secretary Myria Pilakouta said the project represented more than the renovation of a public space, describing it as “the rebirth of a place” linked to the city’s identity and residents’ memories.
Pilakouta said the garden was designed by modernist architect Neoptolemos Michaelides and is a listed structure of significant architectural and historical value.
