Larnaca municipality has prepared the design of a new environmental information centre.
According to the publication, it will have an area of 500 m2. The new complex will be organically integrated into the Salt Lake Nature Trail, creating a harmonious blend of architecture and environment.
According to the environmental impact study, the centre will be located in the salt marsh area. The project is in the architectural competition stage. The main parameters of the future building have been defined and companies interested in participating in the tender will soon receive all the necessary data about the project.
The centre will be a one-storey building, no more than five metres high, located at the highest point of the selected area. This will give visitors a better view of the area and facilitate bird watching. Special attention will be paid to integrating the architectural solutions into the natural landscape - the facades will be made of environmentally friendly materials and the colour palette and textures will be in harmony with the environment.
The project is designed for high energy efficiency (class A) and the introduction of 'green' technologies. Energy efficiency will be achieved through both passive methods (thermal insulation, shading, bioclimatic landscaping) and active solutions (intelligent energy management systems, energy-saving lighting, natural ventilation). Photovoltaic panels will be installed exclusively on the roof of the building, and water management systems will minimise resource consumption.
The area around the centre will be linked to an existing nature trail around the Salt Lake. The new trail will be designed with environmental considerations in mind, eliminating light pollution, disturbance of flora and fauna, and contamination of water and soil resources.
The project includes integrated measures for the management of solid and liquid waste and the protection of the hydrology and ecosystem of the salt marshes. Larnaca Municipality aims to complete the construction of the Aliki Environmental Information Centre by 2027.
It is worth mentioning that the new Environmental Information Centre will be built on the site of the abandoned Leprosy Hospital of Larnaca, which existed from 1807 to 2014.
After its closure, the hospital became a derelict site. Over the years, local authorities have made efforts to revitalise the site. In 2014, for example, they wanted to give it to a university. But something went wrong and this idea was not realised. In January 2020, the authorities started discussing again how to use the empty area. Now they want to build the Alika Environmental Information Centre there.