Filenews 17 January 2023 - by Dora Christodoulou
Following the official announcement last August by the Department of Antiquities and the Getty Conservation Institute of the U.S.A. that the tender for the construction and installation of the canopy for the protection of the mosaics of Kato Pafos has been awarded after many years of procedures, the competent bodies of the city and province are now waiting for the latest in terms of the implementation of the plans.
Tourism and other stakeholders who spoke to "F", pointed out that it is of paramount importance to now practically finalize the efforts that began in the 1990s. It is not only the protection of archaeological treasures that will improve the situation, they said characteristically, but also the image and message that will be given internationally that an area integrated into the world cultural heritage is treated by the Republic of Cyprus in an appropriate way.
The contractor of this important specialized project, as announced, is the architectural firm Hugh Broughton Architects. The competition was promoted in the framework of the Conservation and Management Plan prepared by the Department of Antiquities with the Getty Conservation Institute for the protection of this important archaeological site and the mosaic floors that are unique throughout the eastern Mediterranean, as well as the rest of the remains and monuments dating back to the Hellenistic, Roman, Early Christian, Byzantine, Medieval and Ottoman periods. During the elaboration of this Plan, the creation of shelters for the protection and optimal presentation of the mosaic floors and archaeological remains was considered necessary and extremely important.
One canopy concerns the House of Theseus and will cover the mosaics with a scene from the life of Achilles, Theseus and the Minotaur in the Labyrinth and a complex of baths with geometric mosaics. The second canopy will protect the House of Orpheus and the mosaics with the battle of Hercules and the lion of Nemea, Orpheus and the animals that surround him listening to his music and a smaller complex of baths.
For the needs of the competition, the Department of Antiquities and the Getty Conservation Institute, in collaboration with scientists from abroad experts on conservation and protective shelters for archaeological sites, created a detailed design guide (Design Brief) which included the main criteria: the need to protect sensitive archaeological remains from anthropogenic and environmental threats, the importance of maintaining the relationship between the canopies and the surroundings, the creation of the appropriate conditions for viewing the mosaics and facilitating the movement of visitors, the use of sustainable materials and systems. Also, the architectural offices were asked to suggest ways to implement their plans in other places and remnants of the site, apart from these two houses. The architectural offices then visited the archaeological site in order to understand its special features and needs in order to complete their ideas, discussing with an Archaeological Officer of the Department of Antiquities and a scientist specializing in the archaeology of Pafos.
The proposals with the architectural plans were evaluated by an international committee consisting of members of the scientific staff of the Department of Antiquities and the Getty Conservation Institute and independent international scientists specializing in the fields of conservation, archaeology, architectural design, structural and environmental engineering, with extensive previous experience in archaeological and historical sites. The committee was chaired by Professor of Practice in the field of Historical Preservation at the University of Pennsylvania. It is noted that in addition to the international committee, the Department of Antiquities proceeded to the establishment of a special evaluation committee. This committee consisted of representatives of the Departments of Antiquities and Public Works, an architect and civil engineer with many years of experience in similar projects, as well as a Professor Emeritus of the University of Cyprus specializing in the archaeology of Pafos.
The six offices presented a variety of ideas in their proposals and responded with creative solutions to the challenge of balancing the various and often conflicting design requirements. The Department of Antiquities and the Getty Conservation Institute are grateful for the participation and dedication of all teams throughout this time-consuming and highly competitive process.
The Commission considered that the proposal by Hugh Broughton Architects to create a semi-enclosed canopy presented the most comprehensive and balanced responses to the complex criteria set out in the Design Guide, with priority given to the protection of mosaics. The structural design that keeps the interior of the canopy intact and the inventive solution for the foundation of the structure without the need to carry out further excavations, minimize the impact of the proposed project on the archaeological site, while providing protection from earthquakes, winds and other risks.
In addition, this proposal is based on an understanding of the general environmental threats to mosaics, such as scale formation, and solutions for effective control are presented. The individual elements of the canopy proposals, such as the roof and the use of local materials such as clay tiles, wooden elements on the walls and other points, are consistent with other existing structures in and near the archaeological site. The canopy does not compete with mosaics and other remains due to the simplicity of its design, while the proposed flexible system with pedestrian bridges allows various options for the development of visitor traffic routes. The canopies can be expanded or copied with a solution proposed by the group for the use of accessories ("kit of parts"), with locally available materials that can be easily replaced.
The Director of the Department of Antiquities states that: "among the priorities of the Department of Antiquities is the protection of the unique mosaics of the important archaeological site of Nea Pafos, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. For this reason, in collaboration with the Getty Conservation Institute, we proceeded with the creation of a Management Plan and an international tender for the creation of shelters that will protect the sensitive archaeological remains. The proposal of the office of "Hugh Broughton Architects" takes into account the main criteria set out in the competition, such as the preservation of the integrity of the ancient houses to be housed and the wider archaeological site, as well as a variety of other archaeological and environmental factors and visitor issues. The proposal will be finalized after discussions with the Department of Antiquities and the Getty Conservation Institute, and will be implemented on the basis of the state's legal procedures."
According to Jeanne Marie Teutonico, Deputy Director of the Strategic Initiatives and Publications section of the Getty Conservation Institute, "the design of shelters for archaeological sites is a complex process that must balance a number of conflicting requirements. The careful and creative design of Hugh Broughton Architects will help protect mosaics with structures that are viable and sensitive to archaeological evidence."
As Hugh Broughton, winner of the competition, mentioned, "the development of ideas for the creation of shelters for the archaeological site of Nea Pafos in Cyprus was a great undertaking and we are very happy for our selection as winners of the competition. We have proposed solutions that minimize the physical and visual impact on space, using sustainable passive design techniques to protect these unique mosaics and architectural elements. Our designs reflect the creative and methodical collaboration between architects, conservators and engineers. Everyone looks forward to working with the Department of Antiquities and the Getty Conservation Institute to develop individual improvement proposals aimed at the future protection of this unique site."
For the purpose of informing the public it is stated that Getty is an internationally recognized organization in the field of arts, which is active in the field of exhibitions as well as preservation and understanding of the world's artistic and cultural heritage. It collaborates with institutions around the world, while the work of the Getty Foundation, Getty Conservation Institute, Getty Museum and Getty Research Institute aims to understand the relationships between cultures. The Getty Conservation Institute, with which the Department of Antiquities has been cooperating for many years, focuses on the development of conservation practices for archaeological sites. It supports conservation through scientific research, education, field research and the dissemination of information, creating and offering knowledge.
