Filenews 14 December 2022
Today is a historic day for Cyprus and its cultural heritage, with the signing of the contract for the construction of the new Cyprus Museum in Nicosia. Construction work begins next month.
The project has been awarded to the consortium "Iacovou - Cyfield (M) Joint Venture" for a contract amount of €143,924,216 including VAT.
After the completion of the construction works, a period of 18 months is foreseen for the completion of the museographic works, including the transfer and installation of the exhibits. Therefore, delivery of the Museum is expected in 60 months.
In his address, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Yiannis Karousos, noted that the new museum will be the flagship of Cyprus' reference points. "We aspire to make it the pre-eminent point of reference of our country but also one of the most important museums in Europe," he said. At the same time, he estimated that it will be among the most important museums in Europe both for its unique architecture, but also for its exhibits and the experience it will offer.
Karousos: "The Louvre of Cyprus"
He predicted that it will become the number one most visited attraction in Cyprus and will be the first choice for millions of tourists, while also attracting a significant number of visitors to the capital, with significant economic, social and cultural benefits.
"Just as Paris has the Louvre Museum, London the British Museum, Athens the Acropolis Museum, so we will now have the New Cyprus Museum in Nicosia, which will operate with free admission since as a government we have institutionalized free admission to the museums of the Department of Antiquities, proving in practice that the Nicos Anastasiades government supports culture and at the same time leaves as a legacy works for future generations," he said. also G. Karousos.
The Museum, with a total area of 30,000sq.m. (including basements), will be erected on a plot of 40,000sq.m., in an important central area of Nicosia, on the site of the old General Hospital, with an area of 40,000sq.m. opposite the House of Representatives and despite the existing Cyprus Museum and the Nicosia Municipal Theatre.
It will include permanent exhibition spaces of 5,500sq.m. that will host around 6,500 antiquities, temporary exhibition spaces of 1,000sq.m., educational program spaces, conservation workshops of 2,000sq.m., underground parking lots, antiquities warehouses of 5,000sq.m, restaurant, cafeteria, library, amphitheatre, offices, shop / art shop and extensive landscaping of outdoor spaces. The landscaping works will also include a public square with a fountain, which will mark and upgrade the new, improved image of the urban centre.
In addition, the contract includes restoration/maintenance works of a listed building and the demolition of other existing buildings.
According to the Minister, the Department of Antiquities has the necessary expertise and will undertake, in parallel with the construction of the building, the implementation of the two competitions concerning the graphic design facilities and the digital applications in the new museum, along with the great responsibility of conservation and the huge operation of the safe transport of antiquities.
The detailed study of the project and the tender documents were prepared by the Architectural Office "Theoni Xanthi XZA Architects LLC" after an architectural competition, under the coordination of the Department of Public Works and the design contract includes a provision for the supervision of the project. The project was offered by the Department of Public Works, which will also undertake the coordination, supervision and management of the contract.
G. Karousos congratulated all the contributors of the course that led to the signing of the contracts for the construction of the New Cyprus Museum. He congratulated, among others, the Minister of Health Michalis Hatzipantelas, who resolved the issue of the movement of medical services, an issue that was necessary to be resolved before the signing of the contract.
