A large-scale project is set to begin in Limassol. The former Nemitsas factory site, one of Cyprus's oldest industrial enterprises, will be cleared to make way for a new Ministry of Shipping building. The Department of Environmental Protection has issued demolition permits, and the state fully supports the project.
What will be demolished, and why?
The Nemitsas factory, located in the Tsiflikia area, was used for years as a warehouse and temporary offices for government agencies, including the Department of Electromechanical Services and the Department of Public Works. It is now making way for a modern administrative complex that will house the Cyprus Ministry of Shipping.
The site covers almost 18,000 m². Over 4,900 m² of buildings will be affected by the demolition, which will take about six months. About ten specialists will be involved in the demolition.
Historical architecture will be preserved
Despite the upcoming large-scale reconstruction, the project is sensitive to the architectural heritage. Some of the buildings, including the east and west wings of the production facilities and the administrative building, are recognized as valuable examples of 20th-century modernist industrial architecture.
These buildings will be preserved and will likely receive protected monument status in the future. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Land Department will decide their future.
What did the Nemitsas factory look like?
It used to produce industrial equipment, including turbines, pumps, concrete mixers, and cast iron and bronze parts. The complex consisted of two production buildings, a warehouse, an administrative building, and several auxiliary buildings.
All of the buildings were designed in an industrial style with concrete structures, metal elements, glazing, and a distinctive "toothed" roof. This style of architecture, combining functionality and geometric shapes, was typical of the 1960s.
The factory is in a great location, in the heart of Limassol's shipping district
The factory site is in the industrial and business zone of Limassol (the Tsiflikia district) and is not far from the new port. It is also close to the city's main thoroughfare, Franklin Roosevelt Avenue.
The site is surrounded by mixed-use areas: industrial buildings to the east, residential and commercial complexes to the west, and warehouses and port infrastructure to the south. There is also an educational institution and a nursing home nearby. This makes the site ideal for a new government service related to the city's maritime and port activities.
What will be built?
The new Maritime Ministry building will occupy the central part of the site, uniting all the department's administrative functions. Preserved structures may be incorporated into the project as architectural elements or museum spaces dedicated to Limassol's industrial history.
The project aims to improve public service infrastructure and preserve the city's historical memory by transforming its industrial past into a resource for the future. This is more than just the demolition of an old building. It is the intelligent renewal of the city, combining the past with the present for the future. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs will gain a modern base in a strategically important area, and the city will receive new impetus for development and another reason to be proud of its architectural and industrial history.