Bergen Arkitekthogskole

Student: Kirill Kadyrov
Tutors: APP Deane Simpson, DAV Eva Kun

 

There has been a long history of internal conflicts in Cyprus, and in 1974 it escalated to a Greek Cypriot military coup leading to a Turkish military invasion of the northern part of the island. The Turkish occupation extends all the way south to the capital, where a dividing wall was erected and UN forces still uphold the ceasefire. Even since before the occupation there have been negotiations to find a solution to the problems and hope that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots can find a way to coexist on the island .

 

In my project I want to work with the theme of coexistence because it is a relevant political problem in Cyprus. The capital Nicosia is divided by the Green Line, an area consisting of abandoned and bombed houses, which is now a constant reminder of the conflict. By working with this area of separation architecturally, I hope to change its character and thereby change people’s perception of it. In changing people’s attitudes and perceptions from the constant reminder of the war to some of its more everyday, urban character we could perhaps take one small step closer to a common goal; reunification of Cyprus.

 

The site I have chosen is located in the Green Line, the buffer zone, which has been inaccessible since the separation of the island. This area is composed of various historical layers: the establishment of the city in the medieval times, the Ottoman and British administrations, traces of the armed conflict, and now it has been practically untouched for the last 40 years. It was these historical layers in the buffer zone that inspired my project; to make an archive.

 

An archive can be a collection of documents, traditions and history. The concept of the archive can also be expressed architecturally, and this is the fundamental idea I base my work upon. My goal is consequently both to(1) create a vibrant urban setting newly accessible to both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots where they can learn more about their collective history and conflict, and participate in shared urban and cultural activities (inspired by the pre-separated life of that particular part of the Green Line), and (2) to highlight the site’s important characteristic qualities and historical layers architecturally and urbanistically through various techniques such as veiling, exposing and so forth

 

All photos: Kirill Kadyrov 

 

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