References

Conclusions

We can see that the intentions of the project were to promote all aspects of sustainable development in the city of Nicosia. The public square is a project that can offer entertainment to all people independently of their income or social class. Especially if it is supported with additional infrastructure which make it physically and visibly accessible. In addition, a project like this, which makes the movement of pedestrians in the city more comfortable, can reduce the use of car and subsequently reduces the carbon emissions related to traffic. A landmark of iconic architecture can attract more tourism in Cyprus, which is, still, one of the main sources of income in our economy. However, bad management and wrong decisions affected negatively, for the moment, all of those aspects (society, economy and environment).

Cypriots are not excited for the new project, but, rather, disappointed. Especially knowing that, in March 2013, while this project was at its beginning, many of them were losing their savings and jobs. A project that was intended, initially, to cost 6.5 million euros, then it was designed to cost 23 million and costed 37 million up to 2017 (without the underground parking in Omirou street). A feeling of trust and security of the public towards politicians and decision-makers is a key factor for social sustainability. In addition, we should consider that there are many other social and environmental projects that could be realised with the money that was spent on this project.

The environmental cost from the construction of this project is quite important if we consider that construction sector is responsible for a

large percentage of CO 2 emissions. The chosen materials in combination with the volume of this monumental piece of architecture are responsible for a large quantity of CO 2 emissions, even if we consider only the production of the materials. The extended period of construction and cost shows that there had to be done additional works and transportations. Finally, the road diversions for the construction of this project have caused traffic jams, everyday, since 2012 and this led to additional CO 2 emissions.

Regardless the good intentions, the project seems to fail in all three main pillars of sustainability: The architects meant to provide a environmental friendly square with plenty of vegetation, the square however will be responsible for an increase in carbon emissions, they meant to attract people, however the long absence of the square in any form from the life of the city has estranged people with this part of the city, while the project has totally failed economically as it ended to be very expensive in construction and apparently costly in maintenance.

We can’t say, with certainty, if Nicosia will, eventually, be benefited from this project or not. What we can say is that, it will take time to counteract the negative results that it caused in social, economic and environmental sectors and, according to the theory of sustainable development, it cannot be considered a sustainable project.

1 http://www.circularecology.com/sustainability-and-sustainabledevelopment.html#.XhBmo0czZhE 2 Morelli, John (2011) "Environmental Sustainability: A Definition for Environmental Professionals," Journal of Environmental Sustainability: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 2.

3 Purvis, B., Mao, Y. and Robinson, D. (2018). Three pillars of sustainability: in search of conceptual origins. Sustainability Science, 14(3), pp.681-695.

4 Tabb, P. (2017). Greening of Architecture. Taylor and Francis.

6 The Future of Sustainability Re-thinking Environment and Development in the Twenty-first Century. (2020). Report of the IUCN Renowned Thinkers Meeting, 29-31 January 2006. Zurich, p.2006.

7 McKenzie, S. (2004). Social sustainability: towards some definitions: Hawke Research Institute, University of South Australia Magill 8 http://www.wwf.eu/what_we_do/sustainable_economies/

9 https://theancientwebgreece.wordpress.com/2017/02/25/%CE% B7-%CE%B1%CF%81%CF%87%CE%B1%CE%B9%CE%B1- %CE%B1%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%B1- %CF%84%CF%89%CE%BD- %CE%B1%CE%B8%CE%B7%CE%BD%CF%89%CE%BD/

10 https://dialogos.com.cy/platia-eleftherias-olimeris-tinchtizane/?fbclid=IwAR2spQatEcy5m4S9qs0QF9Ay1Kg6b42YmC7U BT1DYYVgoaMc9Ml39CaDIlU7 11 https://www.sigmalive.com/news/local/606146/dimoskopisi-sden-aksize-i-anamoni-gia-tin-plateia-eleftherias 12 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbfZKrx0pAA&list=WL&ind ex=148&t=0s

References

1. unknown, Around 2.5 billion more people will be living in cities by 2050, projects new UN report(2018) <https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/populati on/2018-world-urbanization-prospects.html> [accessed 10 December 2019]. 1 2.

Mary Bellis, The First Skyscrapers(2019) <https://www.thoughtco.com/how-skyscrapers-becamepossible-1991649> [accessed 12 December 2019]. 3.

Thomas Hawk, A short history of tall buildings: the making of the modern skyscraper(2016) <https://theconversation.com/a-short-history-of-tallbuildings-the-making-of-the-modern-skyscraper-56850> [accessed 12 December 2019]. 4.

DANIEL DENVIR, The Big, Big, Big, Big Money Behind Tall Buildings(2015) <https://www.citylab.com/equity/2015/06/the-bigmoney-behind-tall-buildings/395690/> [accessed 3

December 2019]. 2 5.

Christopher Drew, Director of Sustainability, Adrian

Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture Natalia Quintanilla,

Building Science Specialist, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill

Architecture, 'The Path to Life Cycle Carbon Neutrality in High Rise Buildings', International Journal of HighRise Buildings, 6.4, (2017), 333-343. 6.

Sicignano, Enrico & Di Ruocco, Giacomo & Melella,

Roberta, 'Mitigation Strategies for Reduction of

Embodied Energy and Carbon, in the Construction

Systems of Contemporary Quality

Architecture', unknown, 11.3806, (2019), , in <> [accessed ].

7. Philip Steadman, High-rise buildings much more energyintensive than low-rise(2017) <https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2017/jun/high-risebuildings-much-more-energy-intensive-low-rise> 8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14. [accessed 4 December 2020] 3

Pudong Agriculture Development Group, Sunqiao Urban Agricultural District(2016) <http://www.sasaki.com/project/417/sunqiao-urbanagricultural-district/> [accessed 17 December 2019].

unknown, vertical forest(2019) <https://www.stefanoboeriarchitetti.net/en/project/vertica l-forest/> [accessed 13 December 2019]. 4

Phillip James Tabb, A. SenemDeviren, The Greening of Architecture A Critical History and Survey of Contemporary Sustainable Architecture and Urban Design, 1 edn(London: Routledge, 2014), p. 129-161.

UCL News, High-rise buildings much more energyintensive than low-rise(2017) <https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2017/jun/high-risebuildings-much-more-energy-intensive-low-rise> [accessed 9 December 2019]

Home Insurance Building(2019) <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Insurance_Buildin g > [accessed 1 January 2020].

SSC GmbH , The BIQ House: first algae-powered building in the world() <https://www.buildup.eu/en/practices/cases/biq-housefirst-algae-powered-building-world> [accessed 15 January 2020].

unknown, Southlands() <https://www.dpz.com/projects/0720> [accessed 18 December 2019].

References

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23. 24. Abualzulof G, 2019. “Defending human rights in a changing world” Al Mayadeen. Available in Arabic at: butterfly/net.almayadeen.www://http</effect1366049/ حماية-حقوق-اإلنسان-في-ظل-عالم-متغير <

Bolund P, Hunhammar S. 1999. "Ecosystem services in urban areas." Ecological economics 29(2): 293-301.

Konijnendijk, C. C., Annerstedt, M., Nielsen, A. B., & Maruthaveeran, S. (2013). Benefits of Urban Parks A systematic review. Ifpra. IFPRA.

Konijnendijk CC, Richard RM, Kenney A, Randrup TB. 2006. "Defining urban forestry–A comparative perspective of North America and Europe." Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 4 (3): 93-103.

Niemelä J. 1999. Ecology and urban planning. Biodiversity and conservation, 8(1), 119131.

Melillo JM, Richmond T, Yohe G. 2014. Climate change impacts in the United States. Third National Climate Assessment.

Ritchie A. 2013. Sustainable urban design: an environmental approach. Taylor & Francis. New York. 241 pp

Rinkesh, 2018. Conserve energy future [online] Available at: < https://www.conserveenergy-future.com/top-25- environmental-concerns.php> [Accessed 10 November 2018].

Senanayake I, Welivitiya W, Nadeeka P. 2013. Assessment Sri Lanka–a remote sensing and GIS approach. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research 4: 29-34.

of green space requirement and site analysis in colombo, s.n., 201-. Environmental Benefits of Green Space, [online] Project evergreen. Available at: 25.

26.

27.

28.

29. https://projectevergreen.org/resources/environmentalbenefits-of-green-space/ [25 October 2018].

s.n., 201-. Lifestyle Benefits of Green Spaces. [online] Project evergreen. Available at: https://projectevergreen.org/resources/environmentalbenefits-of-green-space/ [5 December 2018].

United Nations, n.d. CLIMATE ACTION: WHY IT MATTERS [Online] United Nations: Sustainable development goals. Available at: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/wpcontent/uploads/2018/09/Goal13.pdf [25 October 2018].

United Nations, 1997. Urban and Rural Areas 1996. UN, New York United Nations publications No;ST/ESA/SER.a/166), Sales No. E97.XIII.3, 1997.

WA Department of Sport and Recreation, 2009

World Health Organization, "The Relationship between Climate Change and Health", Fact Sheet No. 266, which was reviewed in June 2016. Available at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs266/en/.