The Cyprus Architects Association said on Wednesday, January 8, that the demolition of the Nicosia Savings Bank building on Makarios Avenue in Nicosia would be “a blow to the historical development of the city center.”
The association issued a statement in response to reports of the building's imminent destruction, calling on authorities to "take seriously the preservation of memory and cultural identity."
In their statement, the architects emphasized that the building, erected in 1968 and designed by architect Pefkios Georgiadis, is “an excellent example of the modern movement in Cyprus” and “a landmark […] on the international map of modernism.”
“The building represents an era of creative expression in which the values of the modern movement were adapted to the local conditions and cultural characteristics of the place,” the announcement says.
According to the architects, the building reflects the values and social needs of the era, forming an integral part of the historical memory and identity of Nicosia. They stressed the vital importance of preserving and illuminating such buildings, saying that their preservation was being encouraged in Europe as part of the New European Bauhaus movement. Repurposing existing buildings makes a significant contribution to reducing the environmental burden associated with demolition and new construction, says the architects' association, so preserving such buildings is part of promoting a sustainable future.
The association said it "condemns any decision to demolish the Nicosia Savings Bank" and called on the state to register and protect all buildings of historical value, even if they are not currently listed as protected sites.
Source: cyprus-mail.com
