WORK TO CONSERVE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE
Numerous traditional houses have been listed by the Department of Antiquities and the Department of Housing and Urbanism. Since 1978, several buildings have been rehabilitated by the Department of Antiquities, most particularly the Patsalos residence, which has been converted into a local museum of embroidery and traditional silverwork. A rehabilitation decree issued by the Department of Housing will include all traditional buildings pending listing. 
REHABIMED AND THE PILOT OPERATION
The pilot operation planned by Rehabimed offers the inhabitants of Lefkara and rehabilitation professionals the chance to experience a rehabilitation model based on the RehabiMed Methodology.
This should be a representative example, comprising a series of elements: façades, paving, lighting and street furniture. The results obtained must serve as an incentive for the recovery of façades, and project management must ensure immediate benefits for the inhabitants.
Façades changed due to the use of
materials and incompatible colours.
CHOICE OF THE SITE
The criteria for the selection of the pilot operation governed the choice of part of the commercial street that leads into a small square in front of the main church. In this part of the street there are original façades that need restoring and altered façades that need recovering or rehabilitating. The small square of the Holy Cross is currently used for parking, and must be recovered for the inhabitants. It will be redesigned to make it a meeting point, a pleasant place to gather, rest and re-establish neighbourhood contacts.
Commercial street with houses from the
early 20th century
THE PROJECT
The pilot operation will be based on preliminary studies, starting with a graphic plan, a historical study and a proposal for the recovery or rehabilitation of the façades and paving, and the reorganization of public space.
The first step in the project has already been carried out on site by a group of third cycle students from the Vernacular Architecture Study Centre of Oxford Brookes University, under the supervision of Professor P. Oliver and Ms R. Latter. The work consisted of studying socio-economic aspects associated with the growth of tourism related to vernacular architecture. The students presented their various proposals, based on their observations and the results of the public survey, to the village on completion of the work.
|
|
|
|
Originals colours of the houses |
General view of the pilot site |
A RehabiMed workshop is planned in Lefkara in order to get public opinion further involved, with the participation of local residents and representatives. This workshop will serve to produce useful ideas for the pilot project. |