A new cultural institution is being built in Cyprus with the potential to become one of the most important archaeological museums in Europe. The project by Theoni Xanthi XZA-Architects was selected in an international competition, with construction starting in 2023. The new Cyprus Museum will house thousands of the island’s priceless monuments.
New Cyprus Museum – project selection
The design process began with a competition that lasted eight months and attracted 129 entries from around the world. Seven entries were shortlisted for the second stage and three were awarded prizes. The jury included renowned architects including Sir Peter Cook and Elias Zengelis. In the end, Theoni Xanthi XZA-Architects’ concept was selected, which is a combination of modern architectural solutions worthy of the 21st century, with an emphasis on the cultural identity of Cyprus.
Scale and function of the new Nicosia museum
The new Cyprus Museum will cover an area of more than 27,000 square metres and will accommodate exhibition spaces of 7,500 square metres. In addition to the exhibition halls, the complex is planned to include conservation laboratories, research spaces, educational zones and extensive landscaping covering 23,000sqm. The project was developed in collaboration with 22 teams of specialists from four countries, with the Cyprus Department of Antiquities as a key partner.
Architecture of the New Cyprus Museum
The design of the museum was based on the idea of a floating block, which symbolises the extraction of monuments from the darkness of the past and their return to light on the surface. The building is divided into three horizontal zones. The uppermost, called the memory layer, houses the core of the exhibition. The middle one, referred to as the city layer, opens up to the public space and is meant to integrate the museum with Nicosia. The lowest, the river layer, concentrates the daily functions and connects to the new park on the Pedieos River.
Themes of the permanent exhibition
The exhibition concept is based on three narratives corresponding to the separate blocks of the museum. The TOPOS section is devoted to prehistory and the relationship of the first settlers to the land and its resources. SEA shows Cyprus’ uninterrupted relationship with the sea, while COSMOS presents the historical period, focusing on cultural contacts and exchanges in the Mediterranean.
Sustainability and implementation of the xza-architects project
The museum was designed to have a near-zero energy footprint, in line with current regulations and trends. Flood protection associated with the nearby river was also taken into account. The project has a budget of more than €121 million and the contractor is the CYFIELD JOINT VENTURE & IACOVOU consortium.
New role of the museum in the culture of Cyprus
The new Cyprus Museum will house and showcase one of the island’s largest archaeological collections. It aims to both preserve the priceless heritage and create an open space that will enrich the cultural life of Nicosia and highlight the importance of Cypriot identity on an international scale.
Source: xza-architectsmaterials
Architectural design: Theoni Xanthi XZA Architects LLC
Principal architect: Theoni Xanthi
Collaborating architects: Theodoros Androulakis, Margarita Zakynthinou-Xanthi
Coordinator of architectural development: Kosmas Varkarolis
Architectural Supervision Coordinator: G. Larios
Architectural consultants: Yap Architects – Y. Andreadis
Fereos Architects LLC – P. Fereos (Deputy Principal Designer)
Vap Architects – V. Poutetsis
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