Architecture of Power and Urban Space in a Divided City: A History of Official Buildings in Nicosia/Lefkoşa: Fid-Bau Portal

Architecture of Power and Urban Space in a Divided City: A History of Official Buildings in Nicosia/Lefkoşa

Gurdalli, Huriye / Koldas, Umut

The capital city of Cyprus, Nicosia, has been the seat of government and administrative authority throughout the island's history. The Lusignan reign in the twelfth century (1192–1489) was followed by Venetian (1489–1571), Ottoman (1571–1878) and British (1878–1960) rule until the establishment of the independent state of Cyprus (1960–1963). Today, Nicosia is the last divided capital city in Europe, serving the Turkish Cypriots in the north and the Greek Cypriots in the south of the island. The palaces, monuments and governmental centres illustrate how territorial belonging and power were defined and reflected in the buildings of the city itself. The way in which the power of individuals, communities and nations is organized can be traced through the organization of space and the architectural forms of administrative buildings. This paper elaborates on the ideas and experiences of architects with regard to the ideational background, symbolic significance and relationship between art form and political power put forth in these buildings. Within this context, the paper reflects on the impact of divisiveness in architectural forms and aesthetics, the political use of urban space, the constructional aim of official buildings, the architectural styles that affected their design and the extent of the political authority's involvement in planning and design. Drawing on the oral testimonies of architects and archival materials, the paper highlights the connection between political power and the architectural processes that allowed for the contextualization of divisiveness that has dominated the architectural forms on the island particularly in the contemporary history of the island.