The project is located in Nicosia in the center of the Cyprus’ green line demitilarized buffer zone. It will introduce a new space between two additional checkpoints that will re-use existing building by repairing or cleaning up the found structures. The project embraces the green line as a museum but challenges the idea of a buffer zone between the two sides. It is designed to be easily and quickly implementable in the existing condition of the city. Green Line Arcade - Alexander BÜhm
The design is derived from the typologies and culture found in the city. The green line contains a large part of Ermou Street, a former merchant and manufacture center. It is defined by single room manufacture buildings with good access to the street and distinct corner buildings. There is also a strong history in stone tiles and mosaic in Cyprus. On both sides shaded streets and courtyards are prevalent and a lot of the social life happens in the street. Because of the long divide, much of the local culture is heavily charged with nationalistic ideas but both sides are interested in Western culture. This neutral, external force will be used to create a new arcade for performance and music in the heart of the old city.
Green Line Arcade - Alexander Bรถhm
Careful consideration of the found condition of the ruins in the zone leads to the design. The entrances are designed to change the mindset of the visitors away from the militant atmosphere of the border control by introducing transitional corridors after the control. By utilizing the street as a new public space, a selection of structures are made accessible to visitors. Shading and curtains at the ends are added to define this new space. The structures get cleaned up or repaired but traces of history are kept uncommented, such as bullet holes and overgrown vegetation. The existing becomes the element of possible city findings that can be curated.
Green Line Arcade - Alexander Bรถhm
The following functions are distributed across the site: a Northern and a Southern entrance, six main event halls, two info buildings, two changing rooms, a cafe, a shop, a library/storage, a workshop for repairs and a shared office for two curators. The curators are chosen by each of the sides but come from non-Greek, non-Turkish background and are covered by the UN for this museum. They are invited to stay in the city and create an event based program in the arcade for five years and then changed. Green Line Arcade - Alexander Bรถhm
The transitional corridors are covered by abstract tiles and mosaics.
Green Line Arcade - Alexander Bรถhm
Every space is easily accessible from the street because of the manufacture typology. The rooms and the street can be used in extension of each other.
Green Line Arcade - Alexander Bรถhm
The added furniture is designed to be flexible and easy to move around by visitors and staff alike.
Green Line Arcade - Alexander Bรถhm
The rooms can be used for various functions. Visitors themselves can use and create spaces as they see fit.
Green Line Arcade - Alexander Bรถhm
The shading is designed in steel to have a minimal footprint. Streets are closed off with hanged curtains that create a diffuse appearance. The actual barrier is made of glass, hidden behind the curtain.
Green Line Arcade - Alexander Bรถhm
An exterior passage is added to cut through the green zone.
Green Line Arcade - Alexander Bรถhm
The project serves as an immediately applicable first step in dealing with the issue of the division and the buffer zone but can continue to grow and over time transform more of the zone.
Green Line Arcade - Alexander Bรถhm