The Royal Institute of British Architects has included Cypriot Elena Tsolakis in its Top 100 Women Architects of the World list.
The publication will be presented on February 8 in the UK.
Tsolakis' work includes several public projects that emphasize innovation and sustainable development. One of the most striking creations of the architect is the National Observatory in Troodos, which should open its doors in the summer of 2024.
Eleni developed this project in collaboration with her brother Nicodemos. The building will be erected at an altitude of 1.2 thousand meters above sea level, far from the city, which will allow unobstructed observation of the night sky.
It will take about 45 minutes to get to the observatory from Limassol and Nicosia, and only five minutes from the Agros-Troodos road. The construction site was not chosen by chance. The main criterion was favorable natural conditions - low humidity, no wind, and light pollution.
Obtaining a permit for the construction of the building designed by Tsolakis from the Planning Department is a great achievement, as the new observatory will have a very unusual design, reminiscent of a spaceship.
It is worth mentioning that 90% of the amount needed for the realization of the project was allocated by the European Union, and the remaining 10% by the Cypriot government and local authorities.
The cost of the new observatory is estimated at 1.6 million euros, of which 800 thousand euros are laid in the construction of the building, the rest of the money will be spent on equipment and the arrangement of access roads.
Recall that currently there is one large planetarium in Cyprus, which is located near the Church of St. Andrew the Apostle. The construction of an attraction unique to the island of Aphrodite was carried out by T&O Planetarium of Cyprus. The planetarium project is non-profit. The main goal pursued by the businessman and philanthropist was educational and outreach work.
