Columbia Plaza

Limassol, Cyprus

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Columbia Plaza

Limassol, Cyprus

Firm

Vakis Associates | architects + designers

Type

Residential › Multi Unit Housing
Commercial › Office
Hospitality + Sport › Restaurant Bar/Nightclub
Cultural › Gallery
Landscape + Planning › Urban Green Space
Transport + Infrastructure › Parking

YEAR

2011

Many times architects driven by their ambition to build a new world, demolish valuable existing buildings, that are not in their opinion architecturally important, in order to make space for more sustainable new structures. This denial of history and the waste of an existing structure cannot be sacrificed in the name of sustainability. The restoration and transformation of the existing building fabric in any city promotes the revitalization of the city centre preserving at the same time the cultural heritage of any society.
This complex of buildings was one of the most important abandoned buildings in the Limassol historical centre and preserving its footprint was socially and architecturally correct. It was built in the 1960’s as a showroom for the English car manufacturer Rootes of Hillman, Singer and Humber cars. It was located at the east side of the city, at Agiou Andreou Street. The building was abandoned after the majority of the car sales stores shifted out to the suburban areas of the city.
For the restoration of this building complex, we worked with Columbia Hotels and Resorts based in Limassol, who are constantly looking for remarkable places within the city centre in order to expand their services in gastronomy, hospitality and entertainment. Vakis Hadjikyriacou, architect and founder of Vakis Associates architects and designers, who studied and worked with Foster & Partners, London, for several years before returning to his native island has brought new life to the historic city centre with this project. Restaurants, 200 persons venue centre, a live music club/piano bar, shopping and residential areas, all share a central piazza that was created to contain life within, away from the town traffic and noise.
Our office in collaboration with the municipality of Limassol, civil engineers and town planers managed to conserve the footprints of the existing buildings and minimize the volume of the new additions. We respected and preserved the continuity of the urban block, while simultaneously suggested new modern uses with a contemporary architectural approach, delivering a new commercial centre that is now a reference point to the life of the city centre. The suggested new mixed uses, including a public square, restaurants, music venues, commercial stores, exhibition venues, parking spaces and residential units, cover the whole range of modern everyday life. The aim of the renovation is to focus on the contemporary individuals and their needs, providing new working positions for hundreds of people. Emphasizing on the quality of life in the intermediate public space, this project aimed to bring back life to the city centre, which has shifted towards the suburbs and the coastal line. At the north end of the site a two-storey public parking area was constructed, fulfilling the needs of the complex and the neighborhood in general. Above it, there are twelve new residential units/ maisonettes of two and three bedrooms aiming to attract young families to the city centre. The remaining free open area between the buildings is now pedestrian with a public passage and open piazza. The new town houses are now filled with young families and their proximity to the centre has made the use of the car redundant.
Only local materials were used. The aluminium tubular skin shades and protects the main structure from the heat of the summer and the cold of the Cypriot winters. The interior is dominated by wide oak, solid timber floors, high ceilings and the use of strong colours.