With the aim of being ready in 2012 when Cyprus will hold the presidency of the EU, works will start to erect the Cyprus Cultural Centre, the architectural proposal of which was presented on Wednesday at the Cyprus Cultural Foundation offices.
Speaking during a press conference, chairman of the foundation Kikis N. Lazarides announced that Hopkins Architects (London) were the winners of the architectural competition, after a unanimous decision of the jury. The local representatives of the firm are Vardas and Patsalosavis architectural firm.
The winner was chosen among eight international architectural firms that were selected by the Jury for the second stage of the competition and had prepared complete architectural plans and designs.
In a speech, Lazarides said that with the completion of the second phase of the competition and the announcement of the winner, “a longstanding vision is now closer to becoming real.â€
”The Cyprus Cultural Centre is now taking a specific shape and we are now entering the final stretch in Cyprus acquiring what it deserves, a modern temple of art and culture, an excellent architectural design which will constitute a testimony for style and a point of reference, taking Cyprus out of the cultural deadlock and placing it on the world cultural map, just as it deserves as a European country,†he noted.
Lazarides said the Cultural Centre will also operate as a centre for conference activity and will thus contribute to the economic, tourist and social development of the town and country in general, upgrading the quality of life of Cypriots.
Regarding the choice of firm, Lazarides said the jury was unanimous in its decision, because it singled out the “intelligence, elegance and dynamic sensitivity of the plan.â€
The jury was also impressed because the building is connecting the public places to the lineal park in a subtle way, and relating well to the proposed parliament building. They were also impressed by the thought given to environmental sustainability in the design, which was well thought through and addressed the specific characteristics of the Cypriot environment.
Lazarides said the centre will be ready for opening in 2010 or 2011 and the cost of construction will reach 50 million pounds (80 million Euros).
The multifunctional building will be constructed at the site of the Archigrammatia area in Nicosia, where various government services are currently accommodated. It will include a large multifunction hall with a 1,400 seating capacity, suitable for opera, ballet performances or concerts, and a smaller hall for chamber music and other events, as well as a square for concerts and performances, a special educational centre and exhibition areas, a library and restaurants.
