3 Years of Building Blocks for Social Sustainability / Nicosia Cyprus 2013-2015

BUILDING BLOCKS FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY Nicosia, Cyprus Edited by Lapithis Petros, Papadopoulou Anna, Postekkis Alexandros, Tsaousis Nikolas, Chrysochos Andreas

Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Copyright Š 2017 by Pantheon Cultural Association Any part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, just by referencing the participants work.

Edited by Lapithis Petros, Papadopoulou Anna, Postekkis Alexandros, Tsaousis Nikolas, Chrysochos Andreas Graphic design by pal Published by Pantheon Cultural Association, POB 25353, Nicosia 1309, Cyprus pantheonculture@gmail.com Printed in Nicosia, Cyprus ISBN 978-9963-9789-7-7 Download for free High Resolution Book: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxPGSTtY7O2SUVgwaVNOMno0SE0

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Acknowledgements

The editors of this book would like to extend their appreciation by acknowledging the contribution of all students of the Architecture and Interior Design Programmes of the Department of Architecture, University of Nicosia who have participated in the Building Blocks for Social Sustainability workshops from the first years of its inception.

This book is a compilation of student design projects that aim to address sustainability beyond its conventional environmental component and push the boundaries of what it means for communities to thrive as part of the great infinity of civilization. The goal of this book is to convey knowledge attained through participants’ efforts without any profit.

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

3

Introduction 7 Workshops 11

Walled City 19 Move to the End

21

Safe Art 25 Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures 29 In-Fix 33 Multi-One Food Network 37 Prosperity of the Abandoned 41 Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces 45 Re-Finding 49 Inter-Group Mixing 53 Back to Nature 57

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates 61 Multifunctional Temporality 63 Safe Visibility 67 Linking Through Appropriation 71 Red Path 75 Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform 79 Enlightment 83

Ledra Palace Crossing 87 Green Design for Diversity 89 Wide Open Spaces 93 Feel the Moat 97

Kaimakli Industrial Area 101

Industrial Upcycle 103 Re-Rail 107 GreenIn the City 111 Educating Nature 115 Participants 119

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Introduction

Introduction Life in the 21st century comes with a unique set of challenges that encompass social, financial and ecological crises. Management of these predicaments hinges on an integral relationship between humanity, nature and the built environment, and an acknowledgment of mankind’s agency within this cycle.

With the advent of urbanization, links to nature faded and links between community members were challenged. Cypriot urban society, like most contemporary western societies, suffers from a similar predicament. Communal relationships are strained because of materialist values and challenges of racial heterogeneity. Thus, Cyprus offers a fruitful geography to test design narratives that further an agenda of social sustainability.

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, found at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa. Considering its tumultuous history, the island’s civilisation and culture should be of interest to each and every Cypriot seen as it is these civilasations and cultures which have created its identity as a nation.

The Mycenaeans and the Achaeans brought their civilisation to the island, establishing its first Greek roots over 3,000 years ago. Many others passed through, including the Phoenicians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, Romans, Crusaders, Venetians, Ottomans and British. The apostles of Christ walked this land. The splendour of the Byzantium, founded by Constantine the Great in Constantinople, encompassed the island of Cyprus. Prehistoric settlements, ancient Greek temples, Roman theaters and villas, early Christian basilicas, Byzantine churches and monasteries, Crusader castles, Gothic churches and Venetian fortifications can be witnessed across the island.

Cultural heritage is civilizations’ most valued asset. Culture and civilization are concepts that are in essence intertwined that are expressed spatially as well as socially. In architecture and design, all too often, focus is set on spatiality, with sustainability located within the tangible and intangible norms of the natural and the built environment. The notion of social sustainability enters architectural discourse to provide a component of sustainability that speaks directly to the contribution of community and society to civilization and to cultural heritage.

Social sustainability extends the essence of sustainable design and combines design of the physical realm with the design of the social world in order to create successful places that promote well-being by understanding what people need from the places where they live and work. This book is a compilation of student design projects that aim to address sustainability beyond its conventional environmental component and push

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

the boundaries of what it means for communities to thrive as part of the great infinity of civilization.

Regardless of efforts undertaken in the past 100 years or so, people have still not come to terms with the fact that humanity has been lead into a serious environmental crisis that is quite capable of vanishing the human species. A terrifying reality is that people don’t acknowledge that this crisis was born from the way we have structured our social systems, in other words, the way we live.

Climate If one was to generalise, one could describe the Mediterranean’s climate as moderate.

(Givoni, 1976). In fact this moderate characterisation is so distinctive that the term Mediterranean climate is used to describe several other regions of the world. The climate of Cyprus can be summarised as: • • • • • •

Cyprus is within the Mediterranean temperate zone Hot summers rise to an approximate of 41°C in its warmest month Mild winters drop to an approximate of 5°C in its coldest month Average humidity of 40-60% (sustaining within the comfort zone limits) Large daily temperature range (up to 18°C difference between night and day) The predominantly clear blue skies and high sunshine periods give large seasonal and daily variations between the temperature of the coast and the interior of the island that also cause considerable climate change effects especially near the coasts • At Latitude 35° North, Longitude 33° East, Cyprus has a day length of 9.8 hours in December to 14.5 hours in June • Snow occurs rarely in the lowlands and on the Kyrenia range, however, snow falls frequently every winter on ground above 1,000 metres. This snowfall occurs usually during the first week of December and ends by the middle of April The following conclusions were made concerning thermal comfort in Cyprus: (Lapithis, 2003) • The results (Lapithis, 2003) showed that in order to achieve thermal comfort conditions, ventilation is required during the summer months (June, July, August and September). In this case, natural ventilation actually occurs, or if there are no breezes, then ceiling fans are needed • In the months of December, January, February and March passive solar gains are used to achieve thermal comfort • It must be noted that steps should be taken to avoid over heating during the summer

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Introduction

• The same is to be said for the passive cooling needs in the summer • The results show that all heating requirements are covered through solar energy, while natural ventilation or ceiling fans cover all the cooling needs

Social Sustainability within the City Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, is estimated with 320,000 residents. Of those, about 50,000 live in the central part of the city, these being both migrants and locals. Migrants are distributed throughout the central part of the city but they are more present within the Venetian walls of Nicosia, an area known as the Old Town. Migrants socialise mainly with their co-nationals or other migrants, limiting the relationship between Cypriots and foreigners. The Cypriots that come in contact with migrants the most are predominantly employers. This hierarchical power does not easily allow other relationships to grow.

Multicultural education is a new theoretical and practical reaction in the transformative cultural reality. Migrants appear to have difficulties in adaptation because they face a complete unknown cultural situation. The needs, mentality and means of expression of people from different cultural backgrounds is not easily accepted. The primordial feelings that migrants feel are insecurity and lack of comfort.

Accepting different groups of people is very important for democratic societies to flourish, along with multicultural education. The ability to provide the opportunity to different groups of people to have an active participation within the general community is an important factor that can help solve some of the issues mentioned above. Basic principles for a multicultural education are the exchange of information and experiences, communication, elimination of racism, growth of sensitivity, solidarity, collaboration and general respect towards multicultural education.

The aim is to provide skills that encourage cohabitation in a multicultural society in order to enhance respect towards varying nationalities but encourage recognition of the different cultural identities through a consistent dialogue of understanding and cooperation. Creating an intellectual background allows respect for the different and fruits open societies with a multicultural harmony that are distinguished by equality, understanding, interaction and solidarity.

Social sustainability is mainly concerned with the creation and maintenance of the quality of life of people within a society. It gives emphasis to the protection of the psychological and physical health of all people, it encourages social cohesion and provides education to people who in turn have the opportunity to contribute to society as a whole and develop relationships within it. Confronting individuals equally provides equal opportu-

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

nities to all while giving more emphasis to those in need, encourages and educates the diversity and provides social cohesion between people with different status. Eventually, the quality of life which has to do with basic needs, is cultivated on a personal, group and community level.

Giving opportunities to people to participate in recreational activities is vital for the well-being of societies. The good design of a city and its public spaces has the ability to increase the connection between citizens and encourage socialisation. The creation of a healthy environment, were people are aware of their society and the people living within it, is crucial to its sustainability.

Public spaces are spaces within a city were different people have the opportunity to socialise. These have to be “democratic spaces” which all people feel welcome to use and have the right to be in. They have to offer a quality of life and be able to release the creativity of citizens. The participation of people in the society can bring people together and create a sense of place and identity. When citizens have the opportunity to feel safe and actively use public spaces within a city, criminality is eliminated.

References: • • •

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Givoni B., (1976) Man, Climate and Architecture, Applied Science Publishers Ltd. Lapithis P., (2003)“Solar Architecture in Cyprus”, International Solar Energy Society Conference Proceedings, 15-19 June, Goteburg, Sweden. International Solar Energy Society Nomikos, M. (2004) Re-establishment and reuse of historical buildings and totals, Methodology -Applications, Aristotelio University of Salonica Press, Department of Architecture, Salonica, Greece.

Workshops

Introduction Since social sustainability is more of an inquiry than a definition, workshops such as the BBSS (Building Blocks for Social Sustainability) serve as an orientation device rather than a solution to a problem. Social sustainability ensures cohabitation and coexistence between all racial groups; thus this workshop aimed to accentuate cultural differences and similarities while enhancing mutual respect between communities of cultural diversity and environmental systems. The workshops targeted to explore the concept of social sustainability and to discover its placement concerning broader issues of sustainability.

The four to five day workshops took place between March 2013-March 2017 at the Department of Architecture, University of Nicosia. The student team consists of students of the Architecture programme and the Interior programme of the Department of Architecture, University of Nicosia.

These BBSS workshops are classified by the University of Nicosia curriculum as a catalyst workshop because it occurs for a limited amount of days (ARCH-392 Catalyst I and ARCH-491 Catalyst II), and it aims to hone in on particular and unique skills, not usually encountered in the curriculum. Catalyst workshops take place twice a year, in the middle of the Fall and Spring semester respectively. At this time, students take time away from their scheduled classes and concentrate on a four- or five-day thematic workshop of their choice. Catalyst workshops are pre approved by the department and maybe offered by any member of permanent faculty, adjunct faculty or design professional. The benefit of this educational scheme is three-fold: students are encouraged to acquire non-conventional skills that will enrich their architectural pallets. Secondly, students are compelled to complete a project in significantly shorter time-frame and thirdly, students have the opportunity to come into contact with specialists and instructors outside the department’s faculty.

The participants were required to gather in groups of three or four, each group exploring a particular thematic topic. The final output required was two panels (A1 size) in portrait orientation, produced with any available media. The first panel should exhibit the group’s site analysis findings and the second the design proposal. The format of the final output had to be maintained to facilitate future publications.

The workshop addresses the issue of social sustainability within a humanistic and cultural context, set on the platform of the built environment. Participants are called to consider matters of formal and informal urban structure, sense of community, social identity and ethics as those pertain to societal development in a diverse, multicultural setting.

Operating under the premise that social sustainability can be attained through means

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

of collaboration and common awareness, the workshop’s findings aim to activate urban spaces in a three-dimensional and temporal manner in order to induce values of social and egalitarian participation.

At demanding times such as these, when we are called upon as a nation to withstand the turbulence of the financial crisis and the challenges of the energy potential, issues of community and social cohesion become pivotal to our global survival. The time has come to look beyond skin color, religion and social order and to employ architecture as a means of creating living spaces that transcend racial division and micro-politics.

With this in mind, a group of instructors and dedicated students gathered around four specific areas in Nicosia and invented a world where social problems are tackled with urban proposals.

The initial impetus for this workshop was the desire on behalf of the team of instructors to explore the much-elusive concept of social sustainability and to synthesize the diverse findings resulting from the different perspective of the instructors. The interests and research areas of the instructors vary from participatory design, urban sustainability, industrial adaptive reuse, solar architecture and gendered spaces. A distinct overlap in the team’s research areas is sustainability.

The instructing team consists of practitioners and theoreticians with an extensive background on issues of sustainable design, bioclimatic architecture, sustainable urbanism and social and environmental ethics. Dr Petros Lapithis is a professor of architecture and the coordinator of the Sustainable Design Unit (SDU) at the Department of Architecture, University of Nicosia, while Anna Papadopoulou joins the SDU as adjunct faculty and special consultant. Alexandros Postekkis who masterminded the entire initiative, is a graduate of the SDU and an active practitioner. Nikolas Tsaousis and Andreas Chrysochos are also graduates of architecture from the University of Nicosia and their special interests and thesis, with Dr Lapithis as their advisor, lay well within urbanism and social sustainability.

Sustainability from a Social Perspective It had been observed that architecture and interior design students who have completed the first year or two of study and are in the process of developing their own private architect’s psyche, are often intimidated by tales of sustainability. Misconceptions are frequently added to the pot, creating even less favorable positions. Perhaps the greatest misreading sustainability needs to defend itself from is its presumed direct correlation to the natural environment. Students operate under the impression that if ecolog-

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Workshops

ical dysfunction is addressed and tackled, happy communities will ensue. It was the intention of the instructing team to impart to participating students that sustainability is very much a social issue and is deeply connected to community consciousness.

The workshop aimed at providing an amenable introduction of sustainability in all its broad implications, and thus to demystify it by breaking down certain stereotypical connection such as linking sustainability to photovoltaics or recycled concrete.

Repositioning the Role of the Architect Another observation shared among the instructing team - three members of which have graduated from their studies within the last five years - is the architecture student’s preoccupation with the grandiose architectural product. The culture of the architect as the genius, the hero, the master builder, is easily contracted by young, impressionable minds. This condition quite frequently acts as an obstacle towards producing meaningful spaces that are sustainable in their longevity, their contribution towards social interaction and their synergy with the natural environment.

It must be noted that currently, many architecture schools have shifted towards crossand multi-disciplinary teaching methods that encourage students to acquire a more global perspective that allows them to position themselves in a healthier stance with respect to global circumstances and to their peers. Nevertheless, defining the successful architect as the one who produces high profile, high-budget projects is still quite prominent among professional and academic strata.

The workshop aimed at introducing the notion of the architect as the facilitator or coordinator, rather than the all-knowing expert. The facilitator is keen to help community members express their own ideas and desire about their living spaces (both public and private), rather than educate them on the better ideas. The facilitator will then collect these ideas, and by utilizing his or her academic expertise, will produce a design, and ultimately a built project, that will satisfy the community’s needs for better living.

Two particular elements of the workshop allowed for the participants to practice the role of the facilitator: one was its brevity and the other was the fact that the participants were to work in groups, rather than on their own. The short time allowed for the workshop – four days in total – made it less conducive for long exercises in form finding, that sometimes lead the well-intentioned architect astray from the real issues and the complexities of the project program. Group work also lends itself toward the skills of facilitating and coordinating. Not only is there a better possibility of constant flow of creativity, there is the inherent condition where the team members need to be well coordinated and

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

respectful of each other in order to for the team to reach optimum results.

The Sites It was decided early on in the preparation of the workshop brief, that the students would be provided with a site in Nicosia. The prerequisites for the site selection were that it be urbanistically diverse so that all participants would have the opportunity to explore a group’s particular interests. Also, it was important that the chosen site offer the challenge of multiple layers of history and human ecosystems. The sites chosen in Nicosia where: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Walled City of Nicosia State Refugee Estates, Agios Mamas, Nicosia Ledra Palace Crossing , Buffer Zone, Nicosia Kaimakli Industrial Area, Nicosia

Workshop Process Part of the workshop’s success is owed to the fact that schedules were promptly kept on behalf of the participants and the instruction team. The workshop’s schedule ran as follows: the first half of the first day, students were required to follow introductory lectures on social sustainability. During the second half of the day participants were to settle into groups of three or four and visit the site. On the second day students presented their project concentration and design proposal and spent the day working on site analysis.

On the third day, participants were expected to work on their design intervention and the fourth and fifth day was dedicated to panel preparation. At the end of the fifth day, all projects were presented to peers, faculty and guests.

Day One The first half of the first day was spent addressing the theoretical premise of the workshop. At the University of Nicosia, issues of sustainable design are first introduced to the academic curriculum in the fourth year of architectural studies. Since most participants in the BBSS workshop were in their third year of studies, compressing a comprehensive introduction to sustainability and then branching off to matters of social sustainability was a significant challenge.

First Lecture: Introduction to Subject The first of the two lectures aimed to explain the key concept of social sustainability,

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while at the same time, position it in the broader spectrum of sustainability. Firstly, definitions were set forth, and an attempt was made at distinguishing between the terms green, ecological and sustainable. It was then crucial to link these terms to issues of architecture, urbanism and regional design. Sustainability was then linked to the components of economy, community and environment, pointing out that sustainability needs to employ all three in equal measure.

Following this general introduction, the term social sustainability was discussed at some length. Participants were encouraged to consider examples from their own residential environment. Overall, matters of social isolation and spatial exclusion were discussed more enthusiastically than other topics.

Other issues discussed were: • • • • • •

Sense of community identity and belonging Tolerance and respect Engagement with people from different cultures, background and beliefs Friendly, co-operative behaviour in neighbourhoods Opportunities for cultural, leisure, community, sport and other activities Low levels of crime and anti-social behaviour with visible, effective, communityfriendly policing.

Each group was advised to choose one of four themes to tackle. Since social sustainability is such a wide-ranging issue, the four themes were introduced as a more tangible vehicle for participants to express their intension. The topics, inspired from the publication Design for Social Sustainability, A Framework for Creating Thriving New Communities (Woodcraft et al, 2011), are purposefully wide and overlapping so that they do not limit or compartmentalize creativity.

Second Lecture: Introduction to Site The second lecture delivered by a member of the instructing team, presented a comprehensive introduction to the physical, infrastructural, cultural and historical characteristics of the site. The presentation was visually powerful as well as informative and it provided the participants, some of which from other cities and other countries, a rich visual library and a wealth of material to draw inspiration from.

Images included land use maps, infrastructural patters, mapping of temporal uses and events of cultural significance, demographics, open spaces and green spaces, etc.

Some of the information imparted was also through interpretive sketching on urban design principles. Development of the area was shown through progressive mappings

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

that covered a range of around one hundred years.

Day Two The majority of the day was spent in discussion of relevant issues in small groups and on a one-to-one basis, which proved beneficial in allowing participants to internalize theoretical perspectives. Subsequently, participants were encouraged to personalize the concept of sustainability and invent their own definitions and design direction. Groups presented their site analysis findings to the instructing team and discussed reasons for choosing a particular theme. In terms of production, groups were advised to spend the day on formatting their site analysis findings and arranging them in a legible and constructive manner. At the end of the day, each group was expected to print a draft copy of their first panel to be presented the following day.

Day Three The day began by a pin-up presentation of all draft panels on site analysis. The instructing team and the participants offered constructive comments on the context of the site analysis, its applicability to the design proposal and on the legibility of the panel. The rest of the day was spent on designing interventions. Time was set aside to make necessary amendments to the site analysis panel.

Day Four and Day Five Participants continued working on their design proposal, concentrating on the layout of the second panel. Since the Catalyst Presentation was scheduled for 6pm in the evening, there was no room for extensions and participants were compelled to work with remarkable efficiency. Projects were to be concluded at 4pm, so as to allow two hours for printing and preparing for the Presentation event.

In order to facilitate the final output process, one of the instructors undertook the task of printing all panels. This was helpful in avoiding plotter congestion and malfunction, which is a frequent occurrence among architecture students. The same instructor was also responsible for preparing all panels in electronic order so that they may be projected during the Presentation event. Another instructor was in charge of preparing each group’s verbal presentation. Groups were required to choose a group speaker and each speaker was required to prepare a description of their project that consisted of only two sentences. This was not an easy task to complete. Another instructor took over organizing the participants while they pinned up their final printed panels.

The Catalyst Presentation event commenced on time, and after a brief introduction by

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one of the instructors, the participants presented their projects eloquently and proficiently. All projects were well received and the workshop was concluded with a few hours of relaxed celebrations.

Conclusion The diversity of interests and administrative strengths among the instructing team proved to be valuable in the efficiency of the workshop and should be a serious consideration when a workshop of similar parameters is being planned. Instructors played to their strengths in matters of strategizing, organizing, technical support. On a theoretical level, the participants benefited from the contribution of a researcher in urban sustainability, human comfort, industrial heritage, solar architecture and development of interstitial spaces. The participants also benefited from the local knowledge of the instructors of the different sites in Nicosia and experience with regulations regarding the built environment.

The greatest challenge of the workshop was for participants and instructors to negotiate the issues of a broad theoretical premise and tackle matters of scale in the span of four to five days. The selection of theoretical axes imparted to the participants as well as key associations proved to be crucial. One example of a decisive association is that sustainability is associated with social welfare as much as it is with environmental ethics.

Another association is that a sustainable building has to be ‘green’ but a ‘green’ building is not necessarily sustainable. At the conclusion of the workshop, the participants were infused with a significant dosage of ideas on sustainability, which they were able to apply through efficient time management and constructive group work.

References: • • • • • • •

Hekkers, M. (2012). Design a Sustainable Future. Cyprus Weekly newspaper. November 23 Hekkers, M. (2013). Implementing Social Sustainability in the Walled City of Nicosia. Cyprus Weekly newspaper. April 19 Lapithis P., Papadopoulou A. Postekkis, A. Tsaoushis, N. (2013) “Building Blocks for Social Sustainability: A Four-Day Design Workshop”. ENHSA Environment Conference. Architectural Education and the Reality of the Ideal”, Napoli, 3-5 October.

Papadopoulou A., Lapithis P. (2014) Implementing social sustainability within the architectural curriculum. Socially Engaged Design Conference, 3-4 May. Architecture Research Centre, University of Nicosia, Cyprus.

Papadopoulou, A., Lapithis, P. (2014) “From Zero to Sustainability: Developing an Academic Culture in Sustainable Architecture “ Second International Conference on Architecture and Urban Design, Tirana, Albania, 8-10 May. Papadopoulou, A., Lapithis, P. (2015) ‘’Historical and Sustainable Sensibilities:A Socio-Cultural Speculation within Architectural Education’’, International Conference on Sustainability in Architectural Cultural Heritage. Limassol, Cyprus. 11-12 December.

Woodcraft, S., Bacon, N., Caistor-Arendar, L., Hackett, T., (2011) Design for Social Sustainability, A Framework for Creating Thriving New Communitues, 2nd edition, London: Young Foundation

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Walled City

The Walled City of Nicosia is the inner city of Nicosia that lies within the Venetian walls.

Following a military incursion from Turkey in 1974, the city has been divided into two parts approximately equal in area, with a United Nations administered buffer zone in the middle, running from east to west. It is a site that is rich in commercial and residential activity, with a large number of craft shops and small-scale industries such as carpentries, car-repair workshops etc. The area remains active for approximately twelve hours daily, on weekdays and on weekends. The residential units accommodate low to middle class income and houses mostly immigrant workers. Several buildings are listed and new construction is highly regulated. As a result of its multicultural and long history, the walled city of Nicosia,is well known for its romanticized atmosphere and attracts a large number of tourists on a regular basis.

Projects: 1. Move to the End by Fysentzou Savvas, Vasiliou Evgenios, Christophi Maria 2. Safe Art by Stavrinide Sophia, Stavrou Eleni, Djiali Constantia 3. Live Streaming-Connecting Cultures by Karmenos Antonis, Sophocleous Paris, Pouros Tasos 4. In-Fix by Chira Kyriaki, Hadjisterkoti Christina, Constantinou Lambia 5. Multi-One Food Network by Pavlou Constantinos, Mintsiou Anthi Eleni, Savva Nikolas 6. Prosperity of the Abandoned by Mosolov Egor, Zelenov Evgeny, Shchipakin Lev 7. Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces by Pafiti Andrea, Loizou Eva, Panteli Stefanos 8. Re-Finding by Neoptolemou Kyriakos, Georgiou Theodosis, Georgiadou Danae 9. Inter-Group Mixing by Panteli Myria 10. Back to Nature by Hadjiphillipou Panagiotis, Theodotou Marios

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Walled City

Move to the End

Project title: Move to the End Participants: Savvas Fysentzou, Evgenios Vasiliou, Maria Christophi Observation: Observing and defining dead-ends and conditions of spatial isolation.

Proposal: Connecting the dead-end spaces to enhance interaction between existing users and non-users, by creating an interactive route where users can be informed of activities that take place at dead-end spaces.

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

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Walled City

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Walled City

Safe Art

Participants: Sophia Stavrinide, Eleni Stavrou, Constantia Djiali Observation: The project focuses on safety concerns that arise by observing the old town of Nicosia. By discussing with locals, it was outlined that in the evenings, the area is completely lacking of light, and therefore, the area seems to be abandoned. Some also described the area as ‘frightening’.

Proposal: The proposed idea is the addition of a central 24/7 open market, and three different paths with different uses to pass through. The aim is to connect Ledras street and the Pangkyprio school area, in order to bring life in an undeveloped area of Nicosia and to improve some existing conditions such as lack of safety. Different light conditions, different time zones (morning, afternoon, evening) with proposed activities were also proposed targeted age of the participants was considered. The addition of graffiti on the roads as a guide is also proposed.

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Walled City

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Walled City

Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures

Participants: Antonis Karmenos, Paris Sophocleous, Tasos Pouros Observation: An analysis of the existing cultural activities was done, showing that throughout Nicosia different cultural activities are constantly occurring.

Proposal: Connect different cultures, by inserting pavilions at different places throughout the city. Cultural activities are interconnected with live streaming video showing the happenings of all areas around the pavilions so that one can have a condensed view of all cultural aspects. Bicycles were also added that collect energy while being used and energy is transferred to the pavilion when docked back to the pavilion.

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

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Walled City

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Walled City

In-Fix

Participants: Kyriaki Chira, Christina Hadjisterkoti, Lambia Constantinou Observation: Locals who live or work in the area were interviewed for their opinion about the old city.

Proposal: Addition of activities that will enhance safety and will create a stronger sense of place

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

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Walled City

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Walled City

Multi-One Food Network

Participants: Constantinos Pavlou, Anthi Eleni Mintsiou, Nikolas Savva Observation: Street chosen presents multiethnic markets and restaurants, with patrons being of ethnic background/culture background.

Proposal: Blend the different cultures, promote different home-grown produce, reinforce the relation between the shops, slow down and/or minimize traffic, eliminate the road side parking spaces, welcoming scene for visitors to multi-ethnic elements. Also propose sitting areas and structures above the road level for vegetation.

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

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Walled City

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Walled City

Prosperity of the Abandoned

Participants: Egor Mosolov, Evgeny Zelenov, Lev Shchipakin Observation: Congestion of main street, lots of abandoned and ruined houses on back-streets and not visited by tourists and locals, back-streets are not developed, lots of empty spaces and chaotic parking.

Proposal: Bring people on the back-streets and remove parking lots from the center. Develop active and friendly places either at empty spaces or ruined/abandoned buildings. Activities proposed are green zones, sports, spots for musicians, cafeterias, shops, creative potential.

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

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Walled City

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Walled City

Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces

Participants: Andrea Pafiti, Eva Loizou, Stefanos Panteli Observation: Roads and pedestrian circulation paths were investigated. Also taking into consideration the ages of the users, classification of commercial and public spaces and the classification of open spaces and in-between spaces.

Proposal: Design a continuous playground that loops through residential and commercial areas to create conditions for various activities through its design, this design proposes to bring together social groups and ages through the activities. Its design takes place in meanwhile spaces such as corridors, abandoned buildings, empty-open spaces, etc

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

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Walled City

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Walled City

Re-Finding

Participants: Kyriakos Neoptolemou, Theodosis Georgiou, Danae Georgiadou Observation: All important cultural buildings were noted on the map. The goal was to connect all these buildings/sites together forming a path. RE Finding one’s way through the walled city of Nicosia by creating a visible, clear path which will bring energy back to the city.

Proposal: The path is reformed by a red panel that is either on the ground (in commercial areas) or 3 to 4 meters high. Arrows are cut out from the panels and direct sunlight that is projected on the street. On various points on the path the panel extrudes towards the ground and forms sitting areas or booths.

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

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Walled City

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Walled City

Inter-Group Mixing

Participants: Myria Panteli Observation: Relationship between immigrants and locals Proposal: Creating a network for the different groups of people living or visiting old Nicosia center that will serve their daily and leisure needs but also give them the opportunity for interaction and an experience between them. Encourage inter-generational/inter- group mixing and improve communication and awareness through a series of portals for audiovisual recordings to be transmitted throughout the city.

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

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Walled City

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Walled City

Back to Nature

Participants: Panagiotis Hadjiphillipou, Marios Theodotou Observation: Observe where and how people and car circulation move in the old city and around the municipal garden, identify pedestrian flow and accessibility to the garden. Pedestrian accessibility to the site is the biggest problem and is hindered by numerous government buildings needs of big road access. Road crossings do not exist and sidewalks are in very bad shape. The particular site is enhanced with a variety of species of vegetation. During weekdays, a short number of people use the site basic as a shortcut, and some of them to just relax on resting areas, while on Sunday’s different cultures, visit the site, as to mingle, socialize, cook, have picnics, and sell items.

Proposal: A selection of old and new city spots that introduce and direct the locals, immigrants and tourists to the municipal garden is accomplished via ‘Green Graffiti’ (design symbols and drawings on streets, sidewalks, walls and buildings that are related to the Park). Develop the park through the peoples’ needs in the city, such as better recreational spaces and resting spots, in-nature playgrounds for minors, cooking area, bazaar, cafeterias, free range animals, grow-it-yourself learning opportunities and a “multi-ethnicity village” area is created for 1 or 2 week events, introducing foreign cultures. Through the peoples’ need of being heard for social, political, economic reasons, an ‘Agora’ emerges for citizen gathering, exposing and recording problems and ideas.

Accountable individuals on a daily basis will pass the peoples’ voice in the parliament.

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

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Walled City

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Agios Mamas Refugee Estates

The Refugee Estates of Agios Mamas in Nicosia is a planned neighborhood built after the 1974 invasion to accommodate refugees who required immediate housing. As such, the area is rich in historical and cultural layers. One of the most prominent spatial features is a system of cul-de-sacs and temporary structures. Consequently, the greatest challenge of negotiating the site is achieving social sustainability by overcoming issues of spatial isolation.

Projects: 1. Multifunctional Temporality by Adamou Georgia, Apserou Ourania 2. Safe Visibility by Kouloumbri Christina, Paraskevaidi Marietta 3. Linking through appropriation by Vasquez Hadjilyra Penelope, Chrysanthou Stavros 4. Red path by Parpi Loukia, Andreou Thalia, Hadjipetri Skevi 5. Interaction-Installation-Movable platform by Elena Athanasiou, Cleopatra Ioannou, Argyridou Marilena 6. Enlightment by Michalis Peppas, Balabanides Anastasis

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Agios Mamas Refugee Estates

Multifunctional Temporality

Participants: Adamou Georgia, Apserou Ourania Observation: Dead Ends / Green Areas are creating a small community of the neighbouring houses. The purpose of their function is to provide safety and enclosure so they should be effectively used. People on site are disappointed by the way these areas are being treated, as they provide unpleasant views, and environment. They wish that these areas where well treated and organized, they would like to be able to walk there, grow their plants or vegetables, and have a pleasurable place to sit, relax and interact. Poor temporal structures at dead ends usually used as car park shelters, storage or workings spaces. The green areas are left abandoned instead of being productively used. There is an absence of local young couples who prefer to move to another area.

Proposal: By focusing on Dead Ends and Green Areas of the Site the proposal is offering: A multifunctional space of interaction where the inhabitants of the community will gain a sense of ownership, productivity, socializing and relaxation. It aims to satisfy the needs of all age groups, and increasing the quality of life and at the same time creates a connection between the neighbours. The intervention will work as a place to grow, to play, to sit, interact and relax

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

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Agios Mamas Refugee Estates

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Agios Mamas Refugee Estates

Safe Visibility

Participants: Kouloumbri Christina, Paraskevaidi Marietta Observation: We analysed the different speeds of the roads. Furthermore, we focused on the density of the temporary structures that appears to be more than the permanent buildings. Some of the temporary structures are used by the residents as parking or storages. Also there are many dead ends which can have different viewpoints to informal green areas and sometimes not.

Proposal: We proposed a change to the density between the permanent and the temporary structures by reorganizing the temporary structures, considering the open areas / green areas nearby to allow more unrestricted visibility around them. By moving the temporary structures that belong to the edges of the dead-end and placing those in order inside the dead-ends or by reorganised all the temporary structures only in the edges of the dead ends.

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

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Agios Mamas Refugee Estates

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Agios Mamas Refugee Estates

Linking Through Appropriation

Participants: Vasquez Hadjilyra Penelope, Chrysanthou Stavros Observation: Although the site is located adjacent to a main road and cycling path, the road serves the community, without allowing it to become a destination. The community includes a dysfunctional central core, which divides the area into two parts. There is a large degree of appropriation on the site, where residents extend their activities to the otherwise inert open spaces and dead ends.

Proposal: A path linking the two ‘parts’ of the community, while at the same time passing through the core and church (identified as landmarks), can help to attract residents into meeting each other and socialising. Another path joins the first one to the main road and the cycling path, as a means of attracting visitors that would otherwise bypass the community. Proposed activities are introduced along the paths as point interventions, and are based on extending and formalising the existing appropriated elements.

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

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Agios Mamas Refugee Estates

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Agios Mamas Refugee Estates

Red Path

Participants: Parpi Loukia, Andreou Thalia, Hadjipetri Skevi Observation: Because of the dead ends more time is needed to reach a destination by car than on foot. The church, the school and the market area were identified as important main spots of social interactions of the inhabitants.

Proposal: the proposal involves the extension and creation of paths that connect the existing paths with points of activities and green areas. In order to achieve this, a flexible modular box is introduced, that can be rearranged according to the use.

Through the organization of elements of the proposed red module, the inhabitants are led to experience the paths and main spaces through planting, exercising, sitting under the shade.

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

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Agios Mamas Refugee Estates

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Agios Mamas Refugee Estates

Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform

Participants: Elena Athanasiou, Cleopatra Ioannou, Argyridou Marilena Observation: Lack of interaction and Social isolation are the main observations within this community. There is no limited interaction between people of different ages in this community and they need a socializing space.

Proposal: areas have been chosen to connect together the surrounding communities of the refugee estates. It facilitates access for the people within the radius of 400m from the hot spot. A movable ( It can easily move around the community by car) installation ( The design purpose is to improve the socialization between the people in and out of the community )has been created providing interaction (Its flexible objects on the platform are adjustable to their needs )

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

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Agios Mamas Refugee Estates

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Agios Mamas Refugee Estates

Enlightment

Participants: Michalis Peppas, Balabanides Anastasis Observation: Going through the analysis, observing the area and after speaking with the locals we have spotted a major problem the criminality and the absence of lighting in many areas of the site. Especially the dead ends, the empty plots and the abandoned buildings are identified as cores of criminality.

Proposal: The proposal is based on grouping certain problematic areas and transforms them in order to serve the people needs. The dead ends, the uniformly green spaces and the abandoned buildings as a group become the areas that will enlighten the area around them metaphorically and literally. The five groups (cores) becoming impromptu cultural centre-less formal and community oriented in the day time. In the night time the previous abandoned buildings and now spontaneous art centres become a source of light for the whole surrounding area and also a place that young artists and common people can meet each other and entertain themselves at the casual bars of the respective cultural centres

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

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Agios Mamas Refugee Estates

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Ledra Palace Crossing

The Ledra Palace Crossing is situated just outside the western top of the Venetian Walls of Nicosia. The name of the area was provided by a military checkpoint separating Nicosia’s militarized and demilitarized jurisdictions. Ledra Palace, the building immediately adjacent to the checkpoint, was formerly a landmark hotel of the city, and currently provides administrative and accommodation facilities for the United Nations (UN) forces stationed in Cyprus. The rich tapestry of the area’s past extends along the approximate north-south axis provided by the Wall and the Moat, which act as a spine that connects civil buildings such as the District and Supreme Courts in the south, Ledra Palace in the north, impressive sandstone colonial buildings on the west and a more humble and dense residential fabric on the east. Conditions of spatial and social isolation occur as a result of the different jurisdictions, the site’s elevation challenges and the area’s active historicity.

Projects: 1. Green Design for Diversity by Christiana Christofidou, Ivi Nikiforidou, Josephina Hadjigeorgiou 2. Wide Open Spaces by Louis Agamemnonos, Andreas Chrysochos, Anastasia Alferova 3. Feel the Moat by Rafaela Neokleous, Rafaella Psaroudes, Georgia Stylianou

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Ledra Palace Crossing

Green Design for Diversity

Participants: Christiana Christofidou, Ivi Nikiforidou, Josephina Hadjigeorgiou Observation: The Ledra Palace site is a multi-culture area which gives the opportunity of connection at one point between the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot sides. However, the morphology of the ground and the physical and technical boundaries such as the vegetation, the wall of the moat and the transporting infrastructure do not allow access between the two communities.

Proposal: The connection is now achieved by using bridges in order people can across one side to another and also have the opportunity to descend to the moat which is now transformed into an open green space.

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

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Ledra Palace Crossing

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Ledra Palace Crossing

Wide Open Spaces

Participants: Louis Agamemnonos, Andreas Chrysochos, Anastasia Alferova Observation: Observations of abandoned and inhabited space and also the different uses. There is a contrast in density of vegetation and porosity of the urban fabric Proposal: The proposal is based on the observations of contrast that exist within the urban fabric. It is an experiential path starting from two different locations, which are the House of Cooperation and the Arabahmet Mosque, since they are both important community landmarks. The propose of the path is to enhance the social interaction within the site and it has a flexible pattern in order to the different conditions.

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

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Ledra Palace Crossing

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Ledra Palace Crossing

Feel the Moat

Participants: Rafaela Neokleous, Rafaella Psaroudes, Georgia Stylianou Observation: The time usage around the site was interesting as at the evening hours most of the area before the borders is not used. Activities around the site like restaurants, bars football courts, playgrounds, school were also noted down. The most emphasis was given to the boundaries found which are visibility boundaries, architectural and physical, and political boundaries, the borders. Thee is no connection from the one side the other having the moat as a vastness of empty space separating them physically but also politically Proposal: We proposed a grid of scaffoldings, that based on the observations, we will come to overlap the boundaries found and connect the two sides by creating different events. The users will have the flexibility to adjust their own uses on the scaffoldings and uses such as market, cafeteria, sleeping area and the stage are proposed

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

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Ledra Palace Crossing

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Kaimakli Industrial Area

The former industrial site of Sopaz presents a unique challenge and opportunity for exploration within the workshop’s parameters. It is a site that has been an economic and cultural landmark not only for the immediate area, but for Nicosia at large, and it is also a site that is in dire need of environmental restoration because of its previous industrial use. Its historic value and prominent physical presence make Sopaz a uniquely layered area of study.

Projects: 1. Industrial Upcycle by Iliaki Anastasia, Agamemnonos Louis, Nikiforou Ivi 2. Re-Rail by Doulianiakis Emmanouel, Doxaastaki Maria, Zampellakis Stergos 3. GreenIn the City by Agapiou Nicos, Athanasiou Anna, Charalambides Valentinos 4. Educating Nature by Chrysochos Andreas

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Kaimakli Industrial Area

Industrial Upcycle

Participants: Nikiforou Ivi, Iliaki Anastasia, Agamemnonos Louis Observation: The importance of industry and its contribution to the economy is fully recognized. During the years, is generally noted that the industrial zones separate from others, and especially residential areas. During the site visit at Industrial area of Kaimakli we noted that the area used only by the workers. Also, we noticed that registered Nicosia industries and storage facilities are abandoned. Due to the partly abandonment of the area a lot of empty space transformed into a big dump for useless materials, trash and scraped metals. lack of relaxation spaces for workers, market only for suppliers, asphalt covers the land, empty spaces are covered by trash.

Proposal: The negative aspects of the site such as excess waste materials, large abandoned areas and lack of recreational spaces, could be used in particular ways to reverse the damage and create a new cycle of life in the area. The aim of the proposal is to take advantage of the existing situation by harvesting scrap material, stone and car parts, to create new spaces for people to approach the area. Using these resources in an attempt to recycle the site, a living unit complex, a large farmland with resting areas and public retail market are introduced.

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Kaimakli Industrial Area

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Kaimakli Industrial Area

Re-Rail

Participants: Doulianaikis Emmanouel, Doxastaki Maria, Zampellakis Stergos Observation: Empty large plots of military that workers from the factories are dropping their garbage into them. Empty areas have no life, no activities that attract people. Existing paths are blocked by cars and trash Proposal: The aim of the project is to give life to the area which is abandoned and is empty when the industrial area is not working. the first part of the project is a specific module that is placed on top of rails in order to guide it through the site without upsetting the already existing users. The second part is creating a wall over the specific path that connects the activities. The wall is used for graffiti. The third part is the skate park, for the skate park we used the already exiting grain collectors which are abandoned

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Kaimakli Industrial Area

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Kaimakli Industrial Area

GreenIn the City

Participants: Agapiou Nicos, Athanasiou Anna, Charalambides Valentinos Observation: By walking on the site we realized that is an industrial area where people are not interested to visit. Workers of the local industries mostly use the area. Furthermore there are not enough green areas at the site and thy don’t take advantage of the existing linear park of Kaimakli. also the site is full of waste-garbage Accordingly, the area smells bad and gets more unfriendly.

Proposal: We are attempting to create a linear multi-functional park along the industrial area which invites people to visit the area. Furthermore we are connecting the proposed linear park with the existing one by proposing additional green plots in the area. The idea was to take the green areas of the buffer zone and push them in the city. in addition we proposed areas in that linear park where artist will exhibit

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Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Nicosia, Cyprus

Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Kaimakli Industrial Area

Educating Nature

Participants: Chrysochos Andreas Observation: The urban analysis of 6km aims to seek and to analysis the surrounding conditions in order to identify problems and opportunities. Within this framework is investigating road networks, farmlands, agriculture and natural landscape, government infrastructure and green areas along with the historic background of the area and the people that are engaging the site. There are issues of segregation and abandonees within the area. The pollution is a major issue within the area and case environment and development problems. Some of the reasons are lack of surveillance, no one is complaining, growing belief that the site has lower value and its high cost for proper disposal for some of the materials.

Proposal: Is important to attract people by adding green areas and playground areas were people will start forming memories, as a resold they will gain environmental consciousness, therefore the first step is to clean all the polluted areas. Since there will be health concerns by creating residential and green zones within the industrial area the land will start creating value in terms of money and feelings. People tend to care more about nature while they have created mental bonds. Factories are playing an important role, by proving that they are ecological, pollution free (air, land, water) spaces that are respecting nature. The suggestion is given within the master plan with a green gesture. it will also address the issues of abandoned of the industrial buildings and it will attempt to adopt and reuse the within the new needs of the society.

As the project progress it will focus on the industrial area with a proposal on an agricultural/mechanical education center which at the same time will help to improve/ suggest other types of cultivations more sustainable for the island. The selection of the two types of educational programs is aiming to unify the area since the one program will cultivate the land and the other will produce and educate people how to create agricultural machineries . In other words the one is greening the site and the other assist this purposes.

The selected clusters of structures that have been selected to redevelop were the structures of commission of grains . The structure have been built by the British and it used to be a storage of the seeds for agricultural peruses for the island. during 1995 a new complex of structures started to created for the very same reason and it was aiming to replace the old structures. The complex of the seed production center that can hold up to the 50% of the seed for the whole Cyprus .

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Acknowledgements Introduction Workshops

Walled City Move to the End Safe Art Live Streaming -Connecting Cultures In-Fix Multi-One Food Network Prosperity of the Abandoned Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces Re-Finding Inter-Group Mixing Back to Nature

Agios Mamas Refugee Estates Multifunctional Temporality Safe Visibility Linking Through Appropriation Red Path Interaction-Installation-Movable Platform Enlightment

Ledra Palace Crossing Green Design for Diversity Wide Open Spaces Feel the Moat

Kaimakli Industrial Area Industrial Upcycle Re-Rail GreenIn the City Educating Nature Participants

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Participants

• Adamou Georgia, Apserou Ourania. Multifunctional Temporality. 2014 • Agamemnonos Louis, Alferova Anastasia, Chrysochos Andreas. Wide Open Spaces.

2015 • Agapiou Nicos, Athanasiou Anna, Charalambides Valentinos. GreenIn the City. 2017 • Andreou Thalia, Hadjipetri Skevi, Parpi Loukia. Red Path. 2014 • Argyridou Marilena, Athanasiou Elena, Ioannou Cleopatra. Interaction-Movable Platform. 2014 • Balabanides Anastasis, Michalis Peppas. Enlightenment. 2014 • Chira Kyriaki, Constantinou Lambia, Hadjisterkoti Christina. In-Fix. 2013 • Christofidou Christiana, Hadjigeorgiou Josephina, Nikiforidou Ivi. Green Design for Diversity. 2015 • Christophi Maria, Fysentzou Savvas, Vasiliou Evgenios. Move to the End. 2013 • Chrysanthou Stavros, Vasquez Hadjilyra Penelope. Linking Through Appropriation.

2014 • Chrysochos Andreas. Educating Nature.2017 • Djiali Constantia, Stavrinide Sophia, Stavrou Eleni. Safe Art. 2013 • Doulianiakis Emmanouel, Doxaastaki Maria, Zampellakis Stergos. Re-Rail. 2017 • Georgiou Theodosis, Georgiadou Danae, Neoptolemou Kyriakos. Re-Finding. 2013 • Hadjiphillipou Panagiotis, Theodotou Marios. Back to Nature. 2013 • Iliaki Anastasia, Agamemnonos Louis, Nikiforou Ivi. Industrial Upcycle. 2017 • Karmenos Antonis, Sophocleous Paris, Pouros Tasos. Live Streaming-Connecting Cultures. 2013 • Kouloumbri Christina, Paraskevaidi Marietta. Safe Visibility. 2014 • Loizou Eva, Pafiti Andrea, Panteli Stefanos. Playgrounds Developed Through Meanwhile Spaces. 2013 • Mintsiou Anthi Eleni, Pavlou Constantinos, Savva Nikolas. Multi-One Food Network.

2013 • Mosolov Egor, Shchipakin Lev, Zelenov Evgeny. Prosperity of the Abandoned. 2013 • Panteli Myria. Inter-Group Mixing. 2013 • Psaroudes Rafaella, Stylianou Georgia, Neokleous Rafaela. Feel the Moat. 2015 • Tsangari Rena. The Anatomy of Public Spaces. 2013

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Social sustainability extends the essence of sustainable design and combines design of the physical realm with the design of the social world in order to create successful places that promote well-being by understanding what people need from the places where they live and work. This book is a compilation of the Building Blocks for Social Sustainability Workshops, which students aim to address social sustainability.