Eleftheria Square, Bridging the Old and New Cityscape

Recently, Eleftheria Square has just been completed by Zaha Hadid Architects, which is a public park that stretches next to the walls of the historical Venice Nicosia, Cyprus.

a public park that stretches along the historic walls of Venice Nicosia, Cyprus, Photo by Laurian Ghinitoiu

Built inside a dry moat section along with Venetian walls, it marks the boundary between the oldest part of the city and the new neighborhood that surrounds it. This design transforms a previously inaccessible area into a series of tree-lined promenades, paved plazas, green spaces, and water features.

a public area with concrete on top which is another pedestrian access, Photo by Laurian Ghinitoiu

The park wants to be the first step in creating a 'green belt' that surrounds the old city. As Venetian walls and trenches extend across the green line separating the Greek side of Cyprus from the Turkish-occupied side, Zaha Hadid Architects believes the project could be part of the capital's reunification.

public area with multi function, Photo by Laurian Ghinitoiu

"ZHA's transformation in Eleftheria Square brings together Nicosia's rich history with unwavering optimism for the future," the studio said. The ZHA proposed this new public space inside the ditch is expanded to follow the ancient city walls surrounding Nicosia, reconnecting the capital's divided community.

pedestrian area with irregular shape, Photo by Laurian Ghinitoiu

The irregular geometric shapes of these shapes define the character of various spaces, also creating dynamism between activities that occur above and below. With patterned markings divide different parts of the granite paving and give it a different shape in the landscape. The landscape incorporates a series of curved concrete bridges and access routes, which help negotiate rate changes between the base of the trench and the road.

green areas, pedestrian areas, and water in public parks, Photo by Laurian Ghinitoiu

view of the public area from above at night, Photo by Laurian Ghinitoiu

a public park in the middle of the city, Photo by Laurian Ghinitoiu

the area at the bottom of the moat turned into a public park, Photo by Laurian Ghinitoiu

dimensional comparison between humans and concrete structures, Photo by Laurian Ghinitoiu

Eleftheria Square site plan

Eleftheria Square upper floor plan 

Eleftheria Square lower floor plan