The design of Eleftheria Square establishes new connections to reunite a divided capital. Nicosia’s ancient Venetian fortifications encircle the city and separate the old centre from its modern districts, while the city’s ‘Green Line’ divides the capital into two communities. Zaha Hadid Architects envisioned Eleftheira Square as the first part of a much larger urban planning vision that could be a catalyst for the reunification of the capital by opening the dry moat for public use to create an orbital park around the entire city. Replacing existing car parks and inaccessible areas of the moat with civic plazas, parklands, palm-lined promenades and sports fields, the moat will become a ‘green belt’ around the city. As the largest civic plaza in Nicosia, Eleftheira Square will host public events attended by thousands of the city’s residents; its upper level and supporting columns crafted in concrete with sculpted forms designed to ensure structural integrity in this active seismic region. Bridging the Venetian wall and moat, Eleftheria Square is an important gate to the old city; its underground parking removing cars from the ancient city’s streets to enhance the urban realm.
