Parliament Building Competition (Third Prize), 1995

competition entry

Since the Independence in 1960, the Cyprus Parliament has been housed in an old converted building unsuited for its use. A site for a new Parliament building in the centre of Nicosia was chosen for an international competition. During our study we anticiated that antiquities would be lying under the site and in order to exploit and incorporate the unearthed findings in the design a large void was left under the Parliament Council Chamber. Office spaces, reception areas and committee chambers were designed in a plinth-like structure that supported the dish of the circular Parliament Chamber. The civic nature of the building was reinforced with an open square in front of the main entrance, extending on the other side of the new Parliament avenue giving the building the deserved breathing space for the symbolic and historic role of celebrating democracy.