It is not just Limassol’s Old Town that is to undergo major renovations this year. Details have been released that reveal one of the town’s most popular up and coming suburbs, Ayia Phyla, is about to undergo a massive transformation in the heart of the village, to the tune of euro18m.
Within the context of participative design for the creation of higher quality urban environment, architects Socrates Stratis and Maria Hatzisoteriou have been chosen to lead the project following their winning designs in the 2006 architectural competition; with the contract signed with Limassol Municipality in May 229, the redevelopment of the historical centre of Ayia Phyla is part of the AA U partnership platform of “Public Private Synergy Ayia Phyla” for architecture, art and urbanism.
The historical centre of this rapidly expanding area , now looking run down and neglected whilst the immediate surrounding continue to benefit from private luxury development, is going to be improved dramatically thanks to this partnership. Questionnaires have been sent out to residents for the documentation of information, points of view, and remarks from inhabitants about the larger area of Ayia Phyla; comments about its past, present and thoughts for the future are all being welcomed in the study which aims to create village that the entire community is proud to feel a part of.
Plans show the changes will be considerable . the work will centre around the Chrysafiliotissa’s Panayia Church, with renovations being carried out both north and south of Panayia, right in the centre of Ayia Phyla.
The existing old village houses will be given a dramatic facelift with their facades embellished and repaired, modernisation of the poor street lighting to improve visibility in the area, paving and tiling of the village square, with a communal park area to be created. The most dramatic renovations will feature `hidden` public utilities (electricity pylons and phone lines) which will be placed underground. Aesthetically ,one of the most dramatic changes will be transforming the look of the village as thousands of jasmine trees are planted throughout the heart of the area. In the same way that Lania is known as `the Artists Village`, or Lefkara the `Village of Lace¬, Ayia Phyla is to become known as the Jasmine village.
The ambitious plans will definitely transform the heart of the village. In keeping with the open, communicative approach taken by the project designers, a blog has been set up inviting comments, photo archives and contributions, with a project diary created so progress on the initiative can be watched by the inhabitants and interested citizens of the village and area. In this way, the social contribution of locals will be filtered into the overall plans they evolve.
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Tags: ayia phyla, chrysafiliotissa's panayia church, cyprus limassol, limassol ayia phyla, limassol history, limassol holidays, limassol hotels, limassol tourism, limassol villages, limassol's old town, public private synergy ayia phyla, the artists village