rehabilitation projects

restoration of monuments
restoration of listed buildings
public intensive uses
pedestrianisation-infrastructure
landscaping
survey and documentation
improvement of traffic circulation
partial restoration/facades
project area

walking tour: Nicosia

walking tour: Medieval Nicosia
walking tour: Revitalisation
of Nicosia

Rehabilitation of the Walled City Landmark Achievements

Nicosia, Cyprus

Nicosia’s rich and sometimes turbulent past is reflected in its urban and
architectural composition, most markedly in its historic walled core. The
city experienced centuries of foreign rule – Ptolemaic, Roman, Byzantine,
Crusader/Lusignan, Venetian, Ottoman and British – before becoming
the capital of an independent Cyprus in 1960. In 1974 the city was split into
two sectors as a result of conflict between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish
Cypriot communities. About 10 per cent of the walled city is taken up by
a buffer zone between the two sectors.
Since 1979, a remarkable effort has been made to regenerate the walled
city and protect its architectural and urban heritage. What makes this
initiative unique is the fact that it has been carried out on the local level
with close cooperation between the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot
communities of the city.
This was the first (and for some time the only) joint project carried out
by the two communities and it has been a sustained effort, uninterrupted
by the ebb and flow of politics. The project has maintained a high standard
of workmanship and skills in historic preservation and adaptive reuse, and
has provided an impetus for private investment, attracted new residents,
encouraged tourism and strenghthened economic activity.

2007

Client
Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot Communities of Nicosia

Initiators
Lellos Demetriades, Representative to the NMP (1979 – 2000)
Mustafa Akıncı, Representative to the NMP (1979 – 1990)

Current Representatives
Eleni Mavrou, Representative of the Greek Cypriot community
Cemal Bulutoǧuları, Representative of the Turkish Cypriot community

Coordinators
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)
Repair and Reinforcement
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)

Sponsors
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
and the European Union

Nicosia Master Plan Teams

Greek Cypriot community: Agni Petridou, team leader
Turkish Cypriot community: Ali Güralp, team leader

Project Data
Site area: 2,010,000 m2
Cost: US$ 18,749,000 (Greek Cypriot side) 1986 – 2007
Cost: US$ 6,900,000 (Turkish Cypriot side) 1986 – 2007
Commission: 1979
Planning: 1981
Design: 1986 ongoing
Construction:1987 ongoing
Occupancy: 1989 ongoing

Websites
www.undp-unops.org
Elevations
www.nicosia.org.cy
www.lefkosabelediyesi.org
www.undp-act.org

AgaKhan_Panels_April2008.indd 15 09-04-2008 13:03:33