Eleftheria Square – Nicosia, Cyprus
Title
Eleftheria Square – Nicosia, Cyprus
Designed by
Zaha Hadid Architects
Image Credit
© Laurian Ghinitoiu
Project Description
Eleftheria Square in Nicosia has been inaugurated by Nicos Anastasiade, President of the Republic of Cyprus, and Constantinos Yiorkadjis, Mayor of Nicosia. Stella Kyriakides, EU Commissioner, also attended the ceremony. Establishing Eleftheria Square as the city’s primary gathering space, Zaha Hadid Architects’ (ZHA) design creates new connections intended to unite a divided capital. Nicosia’s massive Venetian fortifications separate the old city from its modern districts, while the city’s ‘Green Line’ divides the capital into two disparate communities. Located near the centre of Nicosia, Eleftheria Square is adjacent to the Venetian Walls and the dry moat that encircles the city. Constructed in the Middle Ages and extensively rebuilt by the Venetians in the 16th century, these substantial defensive walls define the boundary of the oldest part of the capital, dividing the ancient city from the new districts outside the walls. ZHA envisioned Eleftheira Square as the initial phase of a much larger urban plan that could be a catalyst for the reunification of the capital. The design ensures unobstructed views of the Venetian Walls, establishing these fortifications as an integral part of Nicosia’s identity, while also opening the dry moat for public use to create an orbital park that surrounds the city.
Publishing date
22 February 22
