Neapolis University Paphos, maintaining its unwavering commitment to constant connection with the local community and the consolidation of architectural education in conditions of true practical application, proceeded to another substantial and fruitful collaboration with the Community of Pissouri.
This partnership came to fruition with the implementation of the project "Viewing Point at the Melanda location of the Community of Pissouri", enhancing the local identity and offering a new experience to the visitor of the place.
The project is a design proposal by the student of Architecture of the Department of Architecture and Geoenvironmental Sciences, Georgios Pontikas, and was prepared as part of the Architectural Design course of the 9th semester, during the academic year 2023–2024. The proposal was positively evaluated and selected for implementation by the Community Council of Pissouri, which recognized its architectural value, its sensitivity to the landscape and its ability to act as a focal point for highlighting the natural wealth of the area.
The construction of the viewing point constitutes a substantial and creative intervention in the public space, unifying the natural landscape with the human presence through design. The visitor is invited to stand, observe and connect with the environment, through a synthetic experience that incorporates the architectural aesthetics, the geomorphology of the area and the experiential perception of space.
The official inauguration of the project took place, in a modest but substantial ceremony, in the presence of representatives of Neapolis University Paphos, local government bodies, residents of the community and friends of the place. The ceremony was an opportunity for an honest exchange of views, recognition of the student's effort, and confirmation of the importance of university education when it is connected to the needs and challenges of the real world.
The implementation of the project was supported by the Limassol Region Tourism Development and Promotion Company, which, consistent with its strategy for sustainable tourism development and cultural promotion, supported the initiative both on a technical and communication level. This collaboration highlighted the prospects of a partnership between educational institutions, local communities and development organizations for the production of projects with a substantial footprint in the public space.
The project in Pissouri captures in practice the philosophy of Neapolis University Paphos for enhancing extroversion, highlighting the student potential and contributing to the social, cultural and environmental upgrading of Cyprus. It is part of a broader framework of activities of the Department of Architecture and Geoenvironmental Sciences, which seeks to connect academic research and teaching with real projects and challenges of everyday life.
The successful completion of this action is a practical example of the power of design, the value of the educational process when it extends beyond the classroom and the impact that the new generation of professionals can have on the evolution of communities and the shaping of the future.
