Architect:  E P Architects

Structural Engineering Consultants: Andreas Andreou, Danae Polyviou

Urban planning consultant: Andreas Pattichis

Client: Paphos municipality

EP Architects received the 3rd Award for their proposal in the anonymous European architectural competition for the connection of Archaeological Sites in Kato Paphos (2014). The design methodology for the connection of archaeological sites seeks their integration into the urban fabric with an extended pedestrian network of routes, squares, cover structures and a footbridge, enhanced with the use of a unified architectural language.

The characteristics of the site like the natural environment of Fabrica hill and the archaeological ruins and mosaics' tiling logic have influenced the selection of architectural language. The geometry of the trapezoid as a crossbreed between the structural triangle and the spatial square is the basic schema used for the interventions. This geometry found for instance on the proposed pedestrian routes' tiling and the footbridge's suspended structure is informed by contextual and constructional parameters. Roads and pedestrian lanes surfaces are designed in a similar pattern of trapezoid shapes which are used as guides for urban infrastructure.

The overall intervention is approached as a continuous circulation route with secondary ramifications which either disintegrate into the Natura site of the hill for minor interference to the site or highlight their presence in landmark areas like in the case of the footbridge.

The footbridge orientation allows circulation between the park and the archaeological ruins over the road while its edge towards Fabrica hill is designed as a frame in order to highlight the entrance to this important archaeological site. Part of this investigation was based on the required flexibility of design because of  the different circulation needs and the non-definite site topography due to future archeological excavations. Hence, footbridge's construction is arranged in two parts and applied in two phases. The first part starts from the hill and leads to a staircase and an elevator and the second part functions as a ramp with bifurcating sections for the stairs. The interventions on the rest of the hill include a landscape strategy with prefabricated concrete curvilinear skirts that transform into benches with hidden lighting.

In general, the design of the urban infrastructural equipment was built as a classification of prototypes because of the non-definite needs and site topography due to future archaeological excavations. Prefabricated stairs and ramps, tiles, skirts, benches, fences, lighting equipment, information kiosk and cover structures are classified in prototypes with examples of their variations. In particular, the permanent cover structures are designed as tensile membrane steel structures with superimposed trapezoid folds of PTFE and ETFE material. Also, the information kiosk and other utility facilities are designed according to a cubic prefabricated steel prototype which can be adjusted to the various needs with reversibility and flexibility in their application.

Besides smaller squares and parks proposed along the pedestrian routes, aim of the competition was the design of a larger square on the south area of the site where a mosque is located. The design of the square is configured according to a curvilinear connection diagram between its south, east and west sides with the archaeological site on the north. Bundles of parametrically adjusted trapezoidal shapes start from the west side and become wider as they approach the archaeological site while they disintegrate in single narrow strips that discreetly enter the wild vegetation of the hill.  The bundles configure along their way sitting elements, hidden lighting, water features, playgrounds and facilities for the mosque and cultural activities.