Work on the infrastructure for the £50m Riviera project in the suburbs of Nicosia, Cyprus, has begun on site. ESA – now part of Capital Symonds – was commissioned by Plaza Exclusive Projects led by Lambros Christofi in 2008 to develop the architectural masterplan for the 17 hectare mixed use scheme which comprises around 200 new modern homes in phase one as well as offices, shops, retail, community & leisure facilities and an extensive landscaped park.
Riviera’ will consist of two distinct but integrated segments: a residential area with properties for sale and an 18,000 sq m commercial sector with units for rent and sale. The project specifically consists of eco friendly infrastructure, luxury villas, houses, apartments, offices, restaurants, retail and leisure facilities which will be surrounded by parks and piazzas. It will also contain 5,000 sq m of water features and 3 km of dedicated cycle and pedestrian paths while the 23,000 sq m of park will be lined with mature eucalyptus trees and hundreds of citrus and olive trees.
The concept provides a masterplan with a strong, well defined shape and content and based on the idea of interlocking circles that represents the ancient underground wells of Lakatamia that exist under the site. This concept organises the plan and drives the concept for the layout of residential and commercial areas.
In particular, the masterplan recognises the importance of integration, achieving a strong resolution of circulation, functionality, built form and positive open space for community use. The buildings are planned around a regenerated natural ‘creek’ that will form the heart of a new linear park, stretching for nearly a kilometre through the scheme.
The brief evolved to include designs for a new mixed-use residential and commercial community that responds to a defined schedule of accommodation as well as to the context of the site (topography, climate and location) and all current planning regulations.
The first phase of the project is due for completion in 2013.
