Nicosia's 'The Club' awaits its next chapter

In 2018, Cyprus welcomed a new notion to the island. The brainchild of Valentina Kislaya, CEO of Phoenix Leaders, The Club was to become the home of the Cypriot business community, promoting collaboration, cohesion and progressive discussion.

Located in the heart of Nicosia, The Club quickly developed into a centre for local and international business, offering flexible working facilities, training sessions and welcoming world-class speakers including Francis Fukuyama, Sir John Sawers, Costas Markides, Jules Chappell OBE and Herman van Rompuy – to name just a few – to address its Members.

Over the next four years, The Club provided much-needed work facilities and networking opportunities to prominent and aspiring professionals from across the island and all sectors and industries. aside from the impressive schedule of keynote addresses, Members were invited to take part in regular informal events such as wine tastings, musical evenings and even the Cyprus launch of the luxury fashion house Zegna.

But The Club came to represent so much more to its Members and the Phoenix Leaders team; it became a symbol of thoughtful and purposeful regeneration – a concept often ignored by developers on our island.

A historic building with a rich history, which was once due for demolition, gained a new lease of life and was transformed into a convivial, atmospheric and welcoming hub, whilst retaining those period features which reflected its rich history.

The building, which had spent much of its life in neglect and disrepair, now boasts advanced contemporary facilities (including a conference room, offices, a professional kitchen and kitchenette, showers, high-spec technology and air conditioning) and enjoys a unique location against the impressive and scenic backdrop of the Presidential Palace.

By joining forces with AL Architects, winners of the Mies van der Rohe Award, Phoenix Leaders sought to accentuate the raw simplicity of the building and create a place where historical heritage was brought respectfully into the 21st century.

For Valentina this was the most important aspect of the project. “When we moved to Cyprus, I would often drive past this beautiful but haunting building, and I never ceased to be struck by it, particularly when viewed against the backdrop of the non-descript tower blocks which seemed to be popping up overnight around each corner. For me, the building was unique to Cyprus – my family’s new home – and it represented a form of architecture which was being so carelessly neglected around the island. I was drawn to it and wanted to play a part in its history and that of the local community.”

Throughout its operation, The Club and its team worked tirelessly to support the local community, partnering with local businesses that shared the values of sustainability and authenticity. In October 2021, The Club celebrated its partnership with Alpha C.K. Art Gallery, which aims to champion and nurture local artistic talent and excellence, with an exhibition that explored the vital and creative role artists play in not just connecting and engaging our local communities but also in expressing collective emotions and influencing the wider collective narrative through the sharing of their own private perspectives.

During the pandemic The Club was to play a key role in maintaining contact among its Members, sharing regular newsletters, hosting interviews and virtual events. Valentina notes that, “The pandemic and accompanying lockdowns really forced us to take a long hard look at our own physical and mental wellbeing and ask uncomfortable questions about the way we live our lives. Particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic, a need for human connection, culture and art could not have been more apparent and The Club sought to offer that place to its Members.”

However, no-one was to predict the invasion of the Ukraine and the devastating impact that this would have on the region and on the lives of so many. For Valentina, this meant making a difficult decision. “My concentration was forcibly shifted overnight to a much greater challenge – my focus was on my friends, family and all of those whose lives had been turned upside down in the aftermath of the invasion. I found myself spending more and more of my time travelling out to Lithuania to help in the relocation efforts as I knew that that was where I was most needed and could make a difference. It seems like only yesterday that we opened our doors to our first Members, but it is now time for me to move onto a new chapter in Lithuania and hand the reins over to someone else.’

So, what’s next for the building? Valentina’s hope is that it will continue to play a key role in the business community and become home to a company which recognises its importance as an increasingly rare example of traditional Cypriot architecture. She hopes that its future owners’ values reflect those of the building and its history and that others will be inspired to embark on similar projects within their own communities.

“By passing on the baton to someone else who shares our passion for preserving its unique history and respecting its heritage, I hope the building can continue to play an important role within the Nicosia community. I look forward to seeing what’s next for this iconic and much-loved landmark.”

The building is marketed by Cyprus Sotheby’s International Realty

(info@cyprus-sothebysrealty.com)

Status: Available | Ayioi Omologites, Nicosia | Private tours are available on request.

For more information, please contact Anastasia Yianni on (+357) 99079202.

This Special Feature first appeared in the March issue of GOLD magazine. Click here to view it.