The awarded projects and the lifetime achievement award at the Cyprus Architecture, Interior Design and Property Awards

The Cyprus Architecture, Interior Design and Property Awards, rewarding leading projects in the architecture, interior design and property sectors, took place with great success at Nicosia Municipal Theatre on 17 March.

The Awards were held for the third year this year, with the three main categories:

• Architecture
• Interior Design
• Property

as well as the Honorary Award, for Lifetime Achievement-Architect.

Below are the award recipients:

Category: ARCHITECTURE

• Top Architectural Project

New Nicosia Town Hall

A transparent connection between urban and public space in a symbolic location next to the Green Line, where excavations uncovered Bronze Age antiquities. This project brings together the city’s administrative offices, wedding halls, and urban planning departments, featuring a panoramic walkway, an open-to-the-sky hall, shaded outdoor spaces, and a multi-purpose room. Designed with the Mediterranean climate in mind, the building incorporates strategies to minimise mechanical cooling, absorb excess heat, optimise natural lighting, and enhance acoustic quality. Special emphasis was placed on a hybrid ventilation system that combines both natural and mechanical airflow. A defining architectural element is the large woven Birchwood basket, visible through the glass façade. Throughout the space, poplar and oak wood are used as tactile finishing materials, adding warmth and texture to the design.

Architects: Richard Dickon Irwin and Margarita Kritioti, Irwinkritioti Architecture

• Renovation-Reuse Project

Maintenance, Restoration, and New Expansion of the Municipal Market at the Old Town Hall of Nicosia

The Municipal Market building of the Old Town Hall in the walled city of Nicosia has been transformed to house the CYENS Centre of Excellence for Research and Innovation. The design carefully considered the electromechanical and structural needs of CYENS, requiring internal expansions that prioritised the building's energy efficiency while preserving its historical character and materials, as it is a listed structure. This designation guided the maintenance, restoration, and any new additions. A standout feature of the renovation is the elevated metal wing, which maintains visual transparency, as all its façades are made of glass. Following the completion of the project, the building is now earthquake-resistant, holds an Energy Performance Certificate (Class A), and is fully accessible for people with disabilities.

Architect: George Tsangarides, Municipality of Nicosia

• New Generation Inspiration Project

Gauguin Park

Gauguin Park aspires to enrich the urban fabric of Limassol as a modern public space that fosters greenery, culture, and social cohesion. Inspired by the works of painter Paul Gauguin, the project embodies a vision of sustainable urban living, offering a diverse range of experiences—from leisurely strolls to cultural activities—while promoting the harmonious coexistence of people and nature. This is why it is often referred to as the city’s second public garden. The dense and vibrant planting features a rich variety of species and colours, while natural boulders and recycled materials enhance the project's sustainability. At the heart of the park, a circular plaza with skating surfaces, tiered seating, and a stage encourages social interaction, serving as a venue for events and sports activities.
Architects: ANBAU Αtelier and Stelios Lakkotrypis Architect Engineer

• Green Environmental Awareness Project

Sunset Gardens

With 330 residences spread across three- and four-story buildings, this project stands as a model green residential community, located just six kilometres from the city's business centre. It is designed to harmonise modern living with nature while enhancing environmental sustainability.

Surrounded by 40,000 trees and plants, the development serves as a green lung, improving the microclimate and enhancing biodiversity. It offers amenities that elevate quality of life and foster social interaction, including fitness, wellness, and entertainment spaces, as well as dedicated areas for remote work. The project incorporates a lighting system designed to reduce light pollution and adopts sustainable practices to minimise reliance on conventional energy sources. These include solar panels, a waste management system, and a grey-water treatment and reuse system for irrigation.

Architect: UDS Architects

Category: INTERIOR DESIGN

• Distinct Interior Experience Project

Flagship Store Cyta

The store, located in Nicosia Mall, offers visitors a unique experience for all their telecommunications needs, allowing them to explore cutting-edge technologies. This philosophy is evident throughout the space, from the digital exterior signage and 3D display windows to the smallest interior details. The layout is carefully designed to enhance the customer journey, featuring a reception area with a hologram display and information counter, a home area with an oval table and comfortable seating for product exploration, and an exhibition space showcasing devices on tables and accessories on wall panels. The store also includes a virtual reality zone for interactive experiences, a theatre space for presentations and screenings, and a café. Sustainability was a key pillar of the design, with eco-friendly materials, optimised lighting, and a colour scheme that fosters positive energy.

Architects: POLINA Antoniadou-Kokkinou and Darren Maddison

• Pioneering-Innovative Idea Project

Antasia Beach Club

The vision of creating a modern landmark dining space along Paphos' coastal front inspired the transformation of the municipal kiosk into an innovative café-restaurant and wine bar, offering breath-taking views of the castle and harbour. Integrating the project into the unique natural landscape and maximising visual connections from every vantage point were key design challenges. To harmonise with the surroundings, two platforms—one at beach level and the other at pedestrian walkway level—emerge from the rock formations, following the curved contours of the coastline and forming the enclosed café-restaurant space. At the upper level, the platform extends the pedestrian walkway, serving as a semi-open rooftop bar, sheltered yet seamlessly connected to the outdoors. All elements of the platform exhibit a fluid, sculptural quality, reminiscent of ancient clay vessels.

Architect: Konstantinos Psomas, Psomas Studio of Architecture PS-A

Land Development (Property)

• Land Development Company Project

Minthis, Pafilia Property Developers

The project was developed by Pafilia Property Developers and serves as a tangible example of how architecture, when respecting tradition, can enhance not only construction but also the way of life. Designed to blend seamlessly with the natural contours of the land, it offers panoramic views of the Troodos Mountains, surrounding vineyards, and rolling hills. The resort features a modern 18-hole championship golf course, an equestrian centre, mountain biking trails, and a 2,700-square-meter wellness spa. Each residence, villa, and suite is designed to ensure privacy while maintaining a strong connection to the surrounding landscape. The architectural philosophy integrates energy-efficient strategies, reducing the need for artificial energy consumption.

Architect: Woods Bagot

Honorary Award

• Lifetime Achievement – Architect

Haris Fereos

Architect, Founder of Fereos + Associates Architects

Haris Fereos was born in Cyprus in 1940 and graduated from the Pancyprian Gymnasium. In 1964, he graduated from the Greek Artillery School at Megalo Pefko and immediately served in the National Guard as a volunteer. He earned a degree in architecture and a doctoral diploma from the National Technical University of Athens, where he worked as a curator in the Department of Building Science until 1973. During the same period, he also served as a scientific associate in the University’s Department of Architectural Morphology and Rhythmology. Alongside his studies in architecture, he also pursued journalism studies at the School of Journalism founded by academic Spyros Melas. In 1974, he established an architectural office in Cyprus, which in 2020, he passed on to his twin children, Stefanos and Pavlos, both architects. His third son, Alexandros, also an architect, manages the office his father founded in Athens before officially establishing his practice in Cyprus. Apart from his architectural career, Haris Fereos is also an author and was a columnist for over 25 years in Cypriot newspapers.

The Cyprus Architecture, Interior Design and Property Awards are presented by Volcano Stores, with:

• Gold sponsor MUSKITA Aluminium Industries Ltd,
• Silver sponsors N. Psaras Constructions Co. Ltd, Phanos N. Epiphaniou Public Ltd, Knauf and Alphanetrix.
• Lighting Experts Dimco.
• Design Experience Sponsor Bo Concept.
• Communication sponsors IN Business and Alpha Cyprus.