Title: The effect of adaptive reuse practices in the walled city of Nicosia, along buffer zone, Cyprus

Authors: Mukhtar Sabiu Yahuza; Huriye Gurdalli

Addresses: Department of Architecture, Near East University, 99138 Nicosia (Via Mersin 10, Turkey), Cyprus ' Department of Architecture, Near East University, 99138 Nicosia (Via Mersin 10, Turkey), Cyprus

Abstract: Adaptive reuse in this paper can be defined as the method of converting or recycling historic buildings and adaptation of the building function. This study evaluates the aspects of the adaptive reuse of historic urban neighbourhood and its affects to the citizens living along buffer zone in Walled City Nicosia. The study has assessed new purposes of the historic environment in a post-conflict city. A qualitative method was also adopted in order to analyse the pictures taken using descriptive analysis. The research concludes by proposing appropriate functions for some selected monuments. Therefore, this study strongly recommends the creation and implementation of adaptive reuse regulations by the Northern Cypriot Authorities. However, the historic buildings need to be adopted in a controlled manner to avoid extinction of these buildings in the future. This research recommends further similar investigation in the southern Cyprus so as to know exactly what their problems are regarding adaptive reuse in Walled City Nicosia and know how to resolve them.

Keywords: walled city; Nicosia; re-use; buffer zone; peace-making; contested land area; divided city; Cyprus; adaptive reuse.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGENVI.2023.134084

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2023 Vol.22 No.2/3, pp.310 - 328

Received: 06 Oct 2022
Accepted: 28 Mar 2023
Published online: 10 Oct 2023 *

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