The project for the restoration, conservation and extension of the historic Nicosia Municipal Market has won a prestigious award in the 'Reconstruction - Reuse' category.
The award ceremony for the Architecture, Interiors and Land Management 2024 competition took place on 17 March at the Municipal Theatre in the Cypriot capital.
The grand prize for the design of the Municipal Market was awarded to its chief architect, Yorgos Tsangaridis. The award ceremony took place in the presence of the Mayor of the city, Charalambos Prountzos.
It is worth recalling that the Old Market building, next to the Town Hall, has been transformed into a modern and innovative space following a major reconstruction.
It now houses the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and one of the branches of the CYENS Research Centre, which specialises in new technologies, intelligent systems and interactive media. The building is equipped with research laboratories, a multimedia studio, a production laboratory, as well as conference rooms, exhibition spaces and start-up areas. It took about three years and 6 million euros to restore and modernise the facility.
It should be noted that the renovated Municipal Market and the Innovation Centre are the key objects of the Creative Industries Quarter project. This initiative aims to develop the creative economy and transform Nicosia into a regional centre for technology, entrepreneurship and innovation. The project is being implemented with the support of the Nicosia Municipality and renowned international partners: the Max Planck Institute (Germany), University College London (UK), the three public universities of Cyprus - the University of Cyprus, the Cyprus University of Technology (TEPAC) and the Open University of Cyprus.
The Nicosia Municipal Market has thus been transformed from a traditional shopping centre into a cutting-edge innovation hub that will promote new technologies, start-ups and the creative economy in Cyprus.
