An object which has always been lost cannot be remembered.
The memory of which we speak, however, is not quite of an object
but rather of a state- of something that was; and of something that was done,
was made; an action. It is a collective memory kept alive within groups by legends and rituals.
All of these have spun their fantasies round the framework of the lost plan,
since every paradise necessarily be a lost one.
Our conscious intention was to design a new archeological museum in Nicosia that would be a city landmark, a cultural and creative core. A museum that is an integral part of the site, reconstructs archetypal spatial arrangements and uses the elements that make up the Mediterranean expression as a means of synthesis. In other words, a dynamic multicultural core that would go beyond the narrow confines of the museum building. The museum employs its structure to trace the conditions necessary for the contact and understanding of Cypriot culture back to social osmosis, outdoor life and the vital relationship with light and nature.
In this project, the museum attempts to be embedded in the site, obeying the dynamic tracings of the city that will host it. Its discrete structure, the dynamic and concrete geometry are configured in inherent simplicity. Light is a frame of reference and a defining factor, forming excellent spatial qualities and volumes. The new archaeological museum of Cyprus, silent in its form, vibrant in its role as a core of culture and social interaction, redefines the meaning of a landmark. A structure open to the visitor’s level, spaces of variable introversion, devised visual outlets and spatial experiences, all attract the passerby and render the museum an extension and integral part of the city.
In this composition, all of the above seek out harmony and the perfect equilibrium. They collide, intertwine and try to achieve the optimal functional structure with the minimum intervention. The museum is defined in time by a timeless simplicity. It addresses the past and envisions the future, promoting culture, social osmosis and the value of the Cypriot History at present.
Trigonica Simplicitas. A new home for Cypriot culture.
Architects: Pyliotis Alkiviadis, Fokialis Evangelos ,Collaborating Architects: Panopoulos Theodore, Xirokostas Michail, Architects Consultants: Papaioannou Tassis (Professor in N.T.U.A.), Pyliotis Konstantinos (Π4 architecture), 3D Visualization: Konstantinos Koudounis (Architectural Visualisation | Design Strategy), Mechanical Engineer Consultant: Sourilas Konstantinos (KNS engineering consultants), Museologist: Elpis Kalofolia, Location: Nicosia, Cyprus, Area: 38130 m^2, Project Year: 2017, Project Type: International Competition Entry