Former Municipal Market restoration
Basic information
Project Title
Former Municipal Market restoration
Full project title
Restoration of a former Municipal Market, transforming it to a multifunctional cultural center
Project Description
The former municipal market of Athienou is a preserved listed building of great architectural value of the 50s. It was very vivid during its use as the municipal market. It remained unused for many years and there were visible signs of wear and tear. With new architectural drawings it will be transformed to a multifunctional cultural center, welcoming the chorus, the dancing and the theatre groups of the area. Part of it will be used as a civic center providing help to all the people of the area
Current stage development
Prototype level
Project Region
Cyprus
Municipality
4202: Athienou (CY)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
The former municipal market of Athienou is a preserved listed building of great architectural value of the 50s. It lies in the central area of the Municipality, adjacent of the old church of the Patron Saint Fokas, with the proceedings of the feast done every year to be registered in the National Catalogue of Intangible Elements of UNESCO. It was used as a municipal market. It remained unused for many years and the signs of wear were very visible, with danger to be destructed. The overall aim is to preserve the building renovating it and transforming it to a public space to be used by all the citizens.
The building will be transformed into a multifunctional cultural center, to be used mainly in the evenings during the week days and the weekends. In this way it will have as target groups the citizens that take part in chorus, dancing and theatre activities. Mainly the Municipal Cultural Group, consisting of chorus, dancing and theatre groups, with members from kids up to old people, but also other cultural groups of the area will be able to use the transformed building.
Part of it will be used during the morning as a citizen service center. This will help all the people of the area, young and older, to be able to be served in getting birth certificates, identity cards, passports etc, without having to go to the bigger cities and getting served at their municipality, where they live. While all the people will benefit, older people that have less possibilities of travelling, will benefit more.
Specific objectives of the initiative will be the renovating and preserving of the listed old building, transforming it in a modern multifunctional cultural center for use by the cultural groups of the area and at the same time to a citizen service center to serve all the citizens of the area.
Expected outcomes will be the use of the transformed building by all the people of the municipality in either cultural activities or to be served by the citizen service cente
The building will be transformed into a multifunctional cultural center, to be used mainly in the evenings during the week days and the weekends. In this way it will have as target groups the citizens that take part in chorus, dancing and theatre activities. Mainly the Municipal Cultural Group, consisting of chorus, dancing and theatre groups, with members from kids up to old people, but also other cultural groups of the area will be able to use the transformed building.
Part of it will be used during the morning as a citizen service center. This will help all the people of the area, young and older, to be able to be served in getting birth certificates, identity cards, passports etc, without having to go to the bigger cities and getting served at their municipality, where they live. While all the people will benefit, older people that have less possibilities of travelling, will benefit more.
Specific objectives of the initiative will be the renovating and preserving of the listed old building, transforming it in a modern multifunctional cultural center for use by the cultural groups of the area and at the same time to a citizen service center to serve all the citizens of the area.
Expected outcomes will be the use of the transformed building by all the people of the municipality in either cultural activities or to be served by the citizen service cente
Key objectives for sustainability
The old municipal market building remained unused for some decades. The Municipality of Athienou tried a lot all these years to achieve its restoration, since it is a beautiful preserved listed building. The Department of Town Planning and Housing of the Ministry of Interior, after public bids, assigned to an experienced architectural firm to prepare plans for renovating the building, using all forms of sustainable planning and transforming it to a modern building for the new usages described above.
Key objectives were the plans to be prepared taking into account materials that bring sustainability and also forms of sustainability, like the use of sun in winter, the avoiding of the sun during the summer and many other forms that architects use to provide sustainability. Also using circularity and zero pollution, forms that were taken into account and are right now used in the construction. The architectural use of double-glazed glasses and other means helps in this matter, without changing the traditional character of the building.
The initiative can be exemplary in this context, since it is not an easy task to transform an old building of the 50s to a sustainable building. Due to the materials and methods used, this can be exemplary to others having to renovate old buildings, in transforming them in sustainable buildings.
Key objectives were the plans to be prepared taking into account materials that bring sustainability and also forms of sustainability, like the use of sun in winter, the avoiding of the sun during the summer and many other forms that architects use to provide sustainability. Also using circularity and zero pollution, forms that were taken into account and are right now used in the construction. The architectural use of double-glazed glasses and other means helps in this matter, without changing the traditional character of the building.
The initiative can be exemplary in this context, since it is not an easy task to transform an old building of the 50s to a sustainable building. Due to the materials and methods used, this can be exemplary to others having to renovate old buildings, in transforming them in sustainable buildings.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
The old municipal market was designed and constructed to meet the needs of a market, with different market seller rooms and other facilities that a municipal market needed. The key objectives of our initiative in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience for people were to design a building where people could gather freely, express themselves and have a high quality of participation and positive emotions through cultural activities. This would allow the people using this public space to pass their time constructively and at the same time enjoying themselves. A small café that was foreseen in the plans will allow the users to have a refreshment or some rest from their activities without the need to leave the space.
The design of a citizen service center was planned to function during the day independently from the cultural center. This will give the opportunity to all the people of the area to visit the center in order to be served and to see and come across the cultural center and thus to know and get interested about its activities.
The initiative can be exemplary initiative in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience for people with its ability to be visited during the day by people of all ages to be served by the citizen service center and in the afternoon and evenings-weekends by again people of all ages to take part in the cultural activities taking place at the center.
The design of a citizen service center was planned to function during the day independently from the cultural center. This will give the opportunity to all the people of the area to visit the center in order to be served and to see and come across the cultural center and thus to know and get interested about its activities.
The initiative can be exemplary initiative in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience for people with its ability to be visited during the day by people of all ages to be served by the citizen service center and in the afternoon and evenings-weekends by again people of all ages to take part in the cultural activities taking place at the center.
Key objectives for inclusion
The design took care so that all the parts of the public space would be accessible by all the citizens, people with disabilities or not. So special care was given in the design to use ramps or other means of easy accessibility by all in order that all the people, independently of disabilities or not, to be able to use all the parts of the public space which will be accessible by all.
The cultural center was designed to function in one side of the space, next to the citizen service center, so that neither one will prevent the smooth functioning of the other. So, people of all ages and races living in the area will have the opportunity to use it, bringing together people from different worlds that live and work in Athienou in enjoying their cultural interests.
The design of a café which will be working during the hours of use of the public space will help the people to get together there, relax, enjoy a drink, talk and bringing them together.
The initiative is exemplary because it combines a center that will be bringing there during the day the people of the area to be served in various aspects, during the evening those interested in many cultural activities to enjoy themselves and get together, while a small café will give them the opportunity for relaxing and gathering. And all these to be done in a nice environment of a preserved listed building.
The cultural center was designed to function in one side of the space, next to the citizen service center, so that neither one will prevent the smooth functioning of the other. So, people of all ages and races living in the area will have the opportunity to use it, bringing together people from different worlds that live and work in Athienou in enjoying their cultural interests.
The design of a café which will be working during the hours of use of the public space will help the people to get together there, relax, enjoy a drink, talk and bringing them together.
The initiative is exemplary because it combines a center that will be bringing there during the day the people of the area to be served in various aspects, during the evening those interested in many cultural activities to enjoy themselves and get together, while a small café will give them the opportunity for relaxing and gathering. And all these to be done in a nice environment of a preserved listed building.
How Citizens benefit
The initiative will benefit the citizens a lot. It is designed so that citizens will be the main core of it.
Using the citizen service center during the day the citizens will have the opportunity to be served in their area without having to move to the main cities, with all the difficulties that this brings. Then, the interested in cultural activities kids, young and older people will have a space to come together, to enjoy themselves and also to express and show their activities to other interested citizens, since there will be a sitting space for up to 150 people to watch various cultural performances. The small café will also bring the citizens together for some talk and some rest.
The citizens will be those that will bring life to a beautiful building that was abandoned for many years, that was in danger of demolishing and now, in a nice preserved environment will make them enjoying all parts of it.
Using the citizen service center during the day the citizens will have the opportunity to be served in their area without having to move to the main cities, with all the difficulties that this brings. Then, the interested in cultural activities kids, young and older people will have a space to come together, to enjoy themselves and also to express and show their activities to other interested citizens, since there will be a sitting space for up to 150 people to watch various cultural performances. The small café will also bring the citizens together for some talk and some rest.
The citizens will be those that will bring life to a beautiful building that was abandoned for many years, that was in danger of demolishing and now, in a nice preserved environment will make them enjoying all parts of it.
Innovative character
As mentioned before, the initiative will preserve an old listed building in the central area of the Municipality, transforming it from a «dead» place into a vivid place, combining a citizen service center and a multifunctional cultural use, that will bring to the space citizens of all ages and ethnicities residing in the area to be served and enjoy themselves in a nice environment, with a café to add to the enjoyment, in front of the old and preserved church of the Patron Saint of the Municipality. All this by itself is very initiative.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
As explained above, after public bids, an experienced group of professionals is used for the design and the implementation of the initiative. This consists of architects, civil engineers, electrical and mechanical engineers, quantity surveyors and others. At the same time, the experienced engineer of the Municipality of Athienou, with a lot of knowledge about the various matters in the area, was involved, in conjunction with professional architects and other personnel of the Town and Planning Department of the Ministry of Interior of the Government. Also, consultation with the experienced in citizen service centres people of the Government helped that all the matters needed regarding the design of the citizen service center to be taken into account.
All the mentioned above had the disciplines and knowledge to the right design of the initiative. Working together and in other similar projects they had the knowledge of the right interaction in designing correctly the project.
In the rules of the contract there were provisions that the designers, in various phases of the design, had to submit to the employer preliminary drawings, estimations of costs etc, so that the design, as it proceeded, would be approved that it was taking into consideration all aspects set in the contract. This was done and the design was approved by all.
Taking into consideration that the professionals used for the design and the implementation were very experienced in designing and implementing such projects, worked together in the past in other similar projects and the fact that they had to consult and get approvals from the appropriate department of the government and the Municipality, had the added value that the design and the implementation came up with the best possible result.
All the mentioned above had the disciplines and knowledge to the right design of the initiative. Working together and in other similar projects they had the knowledge of the right interaction in designing correctly the project.
In the rules of the contract there were provisions that the designers, in various phases of the design, had to submit to the employer preliminary drawings, estimations of costs etc, so that the design, as it proceeded, would be approved that it was taking into consideration all aspects set in the contract. This was done and the design was approved by all.
Taking into consideration that the professionals used for the design and the implementation were very experienced in designing and implementing such projects, worked together in the past in other similar projects and the fact that they had to consult and get approvals from the appropriate department of the government and the Municipality, had the added value that the design and the implementation came up with the best possible result.
Methodology used
The Municipality wanted to promote the rehabilitation and the preservation of the listed building of the former municipal market and to transform it to a multicultural center. Due to the high amount needed for the design and the construction, a demand was made to the government to approve the initiative and to be supported by the urban development projects of the government, where the government pays 80% and the Local Authority 20% of the cost. The project was approved as such and public bids were promoted by the Town and Planning Department, in order to assign the design of the project to an enough experienced group of the needed professionals. This was done and a contract was signed between the Department and the group of professionals. They started preparing the design in consultation with the professionals of the Town Planning Department and the Municipality. There was also consultation with the cultural groups of the municipality, that would be the end users, and there was also a public consultation in an announced date. Then the final design was made, it was submitted to the appropriate authorities and a building permit was issued.
Due to the economic crisis the materialization of the initiative was postponed. In 2017, a new Council of Athienou pressed for promoting the initiative. This was approved and public bids were announced for the construction. A suitable contractor was announced and the project started.
The Council thought that the initiative would be much better if a citizen service center was combined in the design. This was done in consultation with the governmental responsible department and alterations in the drawings were done to accommodate that, with a small café. The right permits were issued, the necessary alterations to the contract terms were made and extension to the completion date was done. The project is foreseen to end in February 2025.
Then, the Municipality will spend €200.000 in order to equip the public space.
Due to the economic crisis the materialization of the initiative was postponed. In 2017, a new Council of Athienou pressed for promoting the initiative. This was approved and public bids were announced for the construction. A suitable contractor was announced and the project started.
The Council thought that the initiative would be much better if a citizen service center was combined in the design. This was done in consultation with the governmental responsible department and alterations in the drawings were done to accommodate that, with a small café. The right permits were issued, the necessary alterations to the contract terms were made and extension to the completion date was done. The project is foreseen to end in February 2025.
Then, the Municipality will spend €200.000 in order to equip the public space.
How stakeholders are engaged
The Town and Planning Department of the Ministry of Interior of the Government, in collaboration with the Municipality of Athienou, after public bids assigned the design of the project to an experienced group of professionals, architects and others, with many years of experience and with knowledge in designing such projects. According to the contract rules, the designers had to make a public presentation of the initiative and the design, to hear comments and suggestions from the citizens and to take them into account. This was done and helped the designers in their final design.
Irrespectively of the above two more actions were taken. Consultation with cultural groups of the area promoted provisions that they would help the citizens involved in the cultural activities. Also, there was consultation with the experts in citizen service centres of the government on matters related with the use of the citizen service center.
In this way all the stakeholders needed were used in better designing of the initiative.
Irrespectively of the above two more actions were taken. Consultation with cultural groups of the area promoted provisions that they would help the citizens involved in the cultural activities. Also, there was consultation with the experts in citizen service centres of the government on matters related with the use of the citizen service center.
In this way all the stakeholders needed were used in better designing of the initiative.
Global challenges
The initiative addresses global challenges in how to preserve a beautiful traditional building that remained unused for many years, with a danger of destruction and by using local solutions it will be transformed to a vivid space throughout the day and night time, providing the opportunity for people to be served and use the space for enjoyment with many cultural activities.
There are many cities globally that have similar buildings and they live them unused and unattended. By finding the subsidies for the plans and the works needed and providing local solutions, a such building can be transformed to a beautiful vivid public space.
Buildings of old markets don’t need to be rehabilitated and preserved as markets again, if the conditions in the area won’t make them work well as markets, due to the change in the habits and the needs of people. If they are public, the Local Authority can promote initiatives to make them preserved and put in new uses that the local people need.
There are many cities globally that have similar buildings and they live them unused and unattended. By finding the subsidies for the plans and the works needed and providing local solutions, a such building can be transformed to a beautiful vivid public space.
Buildings of old markets don’t need to be rehabilitated and preserved as markets again, if the conditions in the area won’t make them work well as markets, due to the change in the habits and the needs of people. If they are public, the Local Authority can promote initiatives to make them preserved and put in new uses that the local people need.
Learning transferred to other parties
The initiative promoted by the Municipality of Athienou has high potential for transferability and replicability. The fact that an old market, that was functioning in an old listed building, remained unused for many years and the signs of wear were very visible, with a danger to be destructed, is a good element to be replicated or transferred to others, in a way that by preserving a such building and transforming it to a multifunctional cultural center will bring to it life and by the use of it by the cultural groups it will become a vivid public space that will be serving the cultural activities of the area.
Another element is the fact that together with the cultural center will function a citizen service center. The cultural center will be used mainly during evenings and weekends. So, the rest of the time the space would be unused. With the planning of the citizen service center, that will be functioning during the day until the early afternoon, will allow the space to be used and give real service to people during the day. This element, the design of another use in order to make the public space to be visited and be working at all the time and at all the dates of the week is something that is worth to be replicated by others.
Another element is the fact that together with the cultural center will function a citizen service center. The cultural center will be used mainly during evenings and weekends. So, the rest of the time the space would be unused. With the planning of the citizen service center, that will be functioning during the day until the early afternoon, will allow the space to be used and give real service to people during the day. This element, the design of another use in order to make the public space to be visited and be working at all the time and at all the dates of the week is something that is worth to be replicated by others.
Next steps
The New European Bauhaus (NEB) is an EU policy and funding initiative under the European Green Deal that fosters sustainable solutions for transforming the built environment and lifestyles under the green transition. It is looking for solutions that are not only sustainable, but also inclusive and beautiful.<br />
The initiative of the Municipality of Athienou, as mentioned before, will be sustainable but at the same time very beautiful, with the modern preservation of the old market building and at the same time inclusive, since people of all ages, different ethnicities etc will be gathering there in order to be served or to take part with others in different cultural activities. It will build on participation at all levels and it will help in the involvement of local stakeholders in co-creating of the space according to the NEB values.<br />
With the conclusion of the initiative, the Municipality is planning to announce to everybody a gathering at the space on a special date, where the architects will explain to all the local stakeholders the work done, the materials used, how the space will be equipped and the various uses that will be incorporated there. People will be informed about everything, will be able to ask questions, to propose ideas and to be ready to use the place in the way planned that will include there all of them regardless of age, ethnicity etc.<br />
During the phase of equipping the place, there will be special attention in putting the various things (chairs, glasses etc) in a way that will keep the space sustainable, beautiful and at the same time inclusive for all, according to the NEB values and principle. <br />
Infrastructure or public space
Yes
Political support
Yes
Monetary value awarded
No
