Project description

The new Eleftheria Square in Nicosia, Cyprus is a multimillion Euro project that aims to rejuvenate the City Center of this Island state’s Capital.

It was designed by the worldwide renowned Architect Dame Zaha Hadid and it combines the history of the Venetian city walls with modern and functional architecture.

The project consists of the total rebuild and redecoration of the moat surrounding the old Municipality Building and the construction of a new 3500m² bridge connecting the old and modern parts of the city.

The construction of the main elements like the bridge, ramps, banisters and columns, have been achieved with the use of white concrete and in the case of the bridge the construction has to be monolithic and be concreted in one go.

The design incorporates a huge amount of different curves and design radiuses and it renders the use of conventional formwork inapplicable thus making the bespoke, designed and built from scratch formwork a necessity. This was achieved with the utilisation of the latest 3D designing tools and constructing formwork with a combination of timber, steel and fiberglass.

The same design and built challenges exist in the construction of the marble fountain sculptures and banisters that were constructed by CNC machinery and cut to shape with minimal tolerances.

The majority of the materials required, needed to be ordered from abroad and due to the large quantities of steel reinforcement, granite, marble, steel and flora items the contractor had to prepare and apply a sophisticated system of measuring and ordering.

Electromechanical systems include lighting, sound system, heating and cooling, irrigation, provision of fresh water and an Electricity Substation.

One of the biggest challenges the contractor had to face was the lack of space existing in the city center of Nicosia, since the project covers 100% of the land that is being built on, and the fact that traffic needed to be managed constantly so the economy and businesses of the area were not affected. This was achieved with proper and secure traffic management of the surrounding roads.