Common Peace

In divided Cyprus, the coastal city of Famagusta witnesses a 46 years long lasting conflict between Greeks and Turks. A social infrastructure acts as a reconciliation catalyst for the two communities. Through a resilient structure hosting adaptive facilities, Cypriots find common grounds and build a common future together.

Despite its seafront position, Famagusta has lost its roots to Mediterranean Sea. The historic city enclosed in walls, withstands times, whereas the modern coastline district is nothing less than 5.000 concrete buildings in ruins discarded to climatic hazards. Access to this "no man's land" is denied since 1974 by Turkish army. Rather than burring concrete waste in landfills, we consider those ruins as a resource to restore the course of time. Through recycling obsolete structures onto new infrastructures, the intervention carries both the material resiliency and people's remembrances of a common past. As a result, a resilient continuous monument provides costless infrastructures and heritage significance in common public places.\nThrough an initiatory journey across the Mediterranean Sea, Greeks and Turks take a step further towards reconciliation. Buried in a rocky Island offshore from Famagusta's harbor, two thick walls retain all hopes for peace. A public esplanade floats above the horizon, sheltered from blazing sun. Common culture is what makes one single society. The project recalls through a summarized historic vocabulary, all cultural heritages claimed by Cypriots as their common roots. A memorial and a community center highlight the fraternal link that unite Greeks and Turks. Finally, Cypriots can build their upcoming History in a shared place. Together, they shape their community center that will shelter the first shared house for a common future.\nWhile the control of land has always been conflicting, the sea is considered as a public good. It is the last neutral refuge for both communities. As increasing amount of countries face civil wars, the project provides not only a transferable generic infrastructure, but is versatile enough to support every local culture expression. The construction layout, both made of precast and on-site reused concrete, allows flexibility and growth for future needs. Resiliency, both carried by people and built heritage mean reassembly of obsolete, yet valuable elements, with the help of local workforce.