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End of the Route - A place to pause and recharge before returning...
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Visitors Center -View from the south. A small plateau is formed in front of the lower-level entrance
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Visitors Center - Looking upwards from within the central core.
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Landscaping of the Surrounding Area of the two 12th Century Chapels - View from the southwest.
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View Points - Three distinct structures with a common geometry, offering varied spatial experience.
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Nature Observation Deck - A footbridge over the ravine. Fully reversible structure.
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'Aphrodite" Thematic Route in Ineia - Site Plan
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Visitors Center - Upper Floor Plan
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Landscaping of the Surrounding Area of the two 12th Century Chapels - Upper Level Plan
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View Points - Viewing Platform 3: Site plan, floor plans, and sections.
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End of the Route - Plan
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End of the Route - Sections
Aphrodite Thematic Route
Agisilaou & Kalavas Architectural Workshop. Ineia, Cyprus
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Name of work in English
Aphrodite Thematic Route
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Name of work in original language
Θεματική (Περιβαλλοντική & Πολιτιστική) Διαδρομή "ΑΦΡΟΔΙΤΗ" στην Ίνεια
Prize year
EUmies Awards 2026
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Work Location
Ineia, Cyprus
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Studio
Agisilaou & Kalavas Architectural Workshop
EUmies Awards 2026 Nominees
Collaborators
Program
Landscape
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Labels
Facilities · Regeneration · Structure
Site area
12600 m²
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Client
Paphos District Administration
Total gross floor
12600 m²
Cost
159 €/m²
The project aimed to upgrade the road leading from the village of Ineia to Akamas National Park, while connecting in parallel existing points of archaeological, cultural, and environmental interest. The main challenge was to accommodate both vehicle access and pedestrian use, while highlighting the natural landscape in a way that enhances the experiential interaction with space. Temporary metal structures and property fences inspired the use of weathering steel, combined with natural stone and wood—materials that age gracefully, require low maintenance, and integrate seamlessly into landscape.
Key issues addressed by the study included: upgrading the route's infrastructure (replacing the damaged road surface), highlighting the area’s cultural and environmental wealth, protecting the landscape and enabling local economic development. The goal was a balanced relationship between built and natural elements, using simple, low-maintenance design with minimal environmental impact. New constructions were integrated discreetly into the landscape using materials that age well, ensuring that any new structures become part of the landscape and blend organically into it. The layout was adapted to the variable width of the existing road, despite the initial specification for an 11m width. The program was enriched with additional design points identified on-site, aiming to let visitors explore freely, beyond a rigid path, discovering the terrain’s natural features. Secondary trails of special interest were also restored and included in the final proposal.
Inspired by rusted metal structures and fences, pre-oxidized sheet metal was chosen as a key material, along with stone and wood—materials that age gracefully, need little maintenance, and blend into the landscape. Metal beams and copper were used for the footbridge and fair faced concrete for the Visitors Center, emphasizing spatial fluidity. Stones for the dry-stone walls, built with traditional methods and techniques, were collected on-site. Hard surfaces were avoided beyond the road boundaries (asphalt in the central zone, cobblestone paving on either side). Key factors in the choice of materials and construction methods were their organic integration into the landscape, the requirement for minimal maintenance, and the ability to improve with time. Maintenance includes periodic checks of stone walls and repainting of metal elements and the exterior of the Visitors Center. Wood and sheet metal require minimal to no upkeep. Low-cost project (€159/m², Project Cost: €1.997.923,75).