The new observatory in Troodoas has been shortlisted for the prestigious International Architecture Festival 2024, to be held in Singapore from 6 to 8 November.
The unique project, designed by Kyriakos Tsolakis Architects of Cyprus, will be presented to a jury of renowned architects and experts by the firm's chief architect, Elena Tsolakis. It is worth noting that the Troodos Observatory is competing in the same category with world leaders in architecture, including Zaha Hadid Architects, BIG and Foster + Partners.
The International Architecture Festival has been held for 17 years. It has been called the 'Oscars' of the architectural world. Since 2008, the festival has been the main meeting place for talented architects, designers, material suppliers and clients from more than 60 countries.
Remember that the construction of the Troodos Observatory will take place from April 2021 to May 2024.
The ceremony to mark this momentous occasion was attended by the President of Cyprus, Nicos Christodoulides. From the outside, the building, with its 5.6 metre mirrored dome, looks like a spaceship. Its design was inspired by the iconic Star Wars franchise.
The observatory is located at an altitude of 1.2 thousand metres, near the villages of Agridia and Khandria (near Agros). The site was chosen because of the low level of light pollution that affects stargazing, as well as the low humidity. More than 200 cloudless Cypriot nights a year will allow astronomers to observe the stars without interference. The architectural design of the project was developed by Helena Tsolakis in collaboration with her brother Nicodemus.
Their idea is for the observatory to look like a spaceship that has just landed and is ready to take off. The building houses two main telescopes: a 20-inch astronomical telescope and a telescope for observing the sun. The new observatory is expected to attract scientists, researchers and astronomy enthusiasts from all over the world, as well as becoming a centre of attraction for all schools in Cyprus.