Architect: Kali Kapsali
Collaborator: Marios Stylianides
Location: Cyprus, Nicosia
Year: 2024
Client: Municipality of Nicosia
Area: 7417 sqm
Status: Competition Entry
The proposal to rehabilitate and expand the preserved building of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance is based on two main objectives. First, the horizontal extension aims to enhance the prominence of the interior atrium and organize the space to provide a modern working environment, while also establishing a new relationship between the building and the city. Second, the vertical extension addresses the building’s stance, respecting the compositional principles of the existing structure, yet reflecting contemporary architecture. This contrast seeks to highlight the historical significance of the listed building.
The proposal introduces a new relationship between the building and the city, where the redesigned atrium can function as a pocket garden for the neighborhood. To strengthen this connection, the pedestrianization and landscaping of the auxiliary road to the south of the site, linking Lord Byron Street with Grigori Auxentiou Street, is proposed. The new pedestrian walkway will connect the building to the new park encouraging foot traffic to and from the park. Additionally, there is a proposal to connect the atrium to the National Theater, utilizing the space as an amphitheater for small-scale and experimental performances.
