The history of Cyprus is rich with unique influences of various civilizations that have thrived on the island. Nicosia, the capital, situated at the heart of Cyprus, best represents this melding of different political and cultural influences. Yet, Nicosia...
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The history of Cyprus is rich with unique influences of various civilizations that have thrived on the island. Nicosia, the capital, situated at the heart of Cyprus, best represents this melding of different political and cultural influences. Yet, Nicosia bears scars of conflict. In the aftermath of the 1974 Turkish invasion, barricades divided its streets, splitting the historic walled city in half. This division prompts a significant question: what becomes of a city when it stands as a living reminder of conflict? Just like a person might suppress a painful memory, the city’s space has been neglected and abandoned.
Hence, this thesis uses 6 Urban Artifacts — 6 specific locations within the city — to explore the transformation of the walled city of Nicosia from a place of action to a place of absence. An excavation through the layers of history, aiming to uncover the unconscious processes that have shaped the city’s current form. It is therefore implied, the Urban Artifacts serve a
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