Portfolio NICOSIA_a scenario Arbara Sophia
of transition Alygizou Niki-Xenia, Arbara Sophia
REVITALIZATION | APPROPRIATION | COEXISTENCE Nicosia: a senario of transition
This thesis analises the issue of division in a city, its spatial expression and finally the study of bridging it through architecture. Firstly, the issue of the border in an urban scale, was studied, and the social-political division caused by this separation was investigated, based on racial and religious terms. The example of the buffer zone and the city of Nicosia was chosen as a case study. This projects objective is to create a common space of interaction between the two ethnic groups while helping both groups appropriate an important part of the city. Our intension was not to intervent permanently but to set up the principles between the two, now divided, ethnic groups. The project is set on the day after the reunification of the northern and southern part of the city. Transversal gestures of connection bridge the two parts and create spaces of coexistence inside and on the buffer zones limits, through ephemeral parasitical structures. the border - wall
The urban rift does not have the characteristics of a single wall, but the range of a zone. The creation of a myth of the “other side” is common, as there is no contact with the opposite side. The mark of division goes on as time passes and the zone grows as a parasite inside the city.
the border - zone
How do we deal with a transition zone?
Through transversal “stitching”. Connection poles are created along both sides of the city.
Buffer zone Self-declared state of Northern Cyprus Republic of Cyprus
the physical border
Once the boundaries are removed, an in - between space is left - a space of transition. Perspectives of bridging through the creation of common spaces, in-between the zone. That’s how we aim to create a fertile environment for future harmonical unification and coexistence.
Final Project | School of Architecture, NTUA | October 2015, Athens collaborators: Aligizou Niki - Xenia | assistant professor: Stavrides Stavros, Vasilatos Panagiotis, Micha Irene
Îœain intervention points Case study B The selected area belongs to the eastern part of the buffer zone where, along both sides, the most important trading zones of the two parts of the city are placed. The old central market of Bandabuliya and the municipal market of Nicosia belong potentially in the same axis but with the buffer zone dividing them. Unlike the northern part, in the southern, residential housing is only found in the northwest part. Artisanal and blacksmith workshops, carpentries are the main activity of the area and remind us of the old character of the buffer zone. In the northern part and aboce the central market of Bandabuliya we find the Selimiye square with the former Saint Sophia church(nowadays used as a mosque). Selimiye square is today a pole of cultural and social activity of the turkish-cypriot community.
Case study A The first case study is placed close to the main axis of Ledra’s street. The Ledras axis is the only connection road in the inside the walls city with the checkpoint that allows the crossing from one to the other side by passing the checkpoint identification. This area is caracterized besides its strong commercial character, by cultural spaces not only in the south part but also in the space between, inside the crossing of the buffer zone, operated by the two communities. Besides, military forces could not be absent from this zone. Conserning residential areas, they are concentrated in the turkish-cypriot part of the city with lower class families living basically there. The appropriation of the public space is here strong both by artisans as well as by families with children that live there and almost occupy the low traffic street. One of the most significant buildings in this neighbourhood is an old hotel. Also, particular sign of the area is the existence of covered, public walkways (stoa), a general caracteristic of the city.
60
20 0
1 floor 2 floors 3 floors 4 floors 5 floors
40
current trading axis former trading axis
m 80
current artisanal workshops former artisanal workshops
2
Intentions
Usage
The module Who?
When?
community children artisans neighbourhood the day after memories of the past
that time Where?
relation with existing buildings
no time buffer zone border in-between space urban gap
wooden panels metalic structure wooden side panels woodenfloor
construction of an ephemeral module with the wooden and metallic parts that can be teared apart simple in construction - repetitive module
secondary system - frame ability to separate and use without the wooden parts
Îżbservatory
3
Plan view - invervention point B
Top view - invervention point A
15
5 0
10
15
5 0
10
m 20
m 20
Areas across the buffer zone
Section - intervention point A
Section - intervention point B
6
2 0
0
4
8
2
6 4
m
8
m
5