One of the largest new cultural infrastructure projects in Limassol is now moving from planning to implementation.
The Limassol Municipality has announced a one-stage international architectural competition for the design and supervision of the construction of the Limassol Arts Centre at the "Epaminonda" site, with an estimated construction budget of €25.5 million plus VAT.
The competition bears the number 77/26 and provides that the architect or the team that will win the First Prize will be assigned the completion of the study and the supervision of the implementation of the project. The fee for design and supervision amounts to €2.6 million plus VAT.
The Arts Centre is intended to be a key infrastructure of the Limassol Cultural Strategy 2024–2034 and to bring together functions that are currently scattered or do not have corresponding infrastructure. According to the announcement, it is not planned as another conventional event space, but as a space that will cover different stages of the artistic process, from production and research to education, collaboration and presentation of work.
What will be included
The building program includes performance and event spaces, learning and education spaces, creative production spaces, social and public spaces, as well as infrastructure for hosting artists (residencies).
Administration and management areas, auxiliary spaces, vehicle accesses and parking spaces are also planned, while special reference is made to digital arts and public participation.
The call sets the goal of a building with full accessibility and inclusion, based on the principles of Universal Design, as well as its long-term environmental and economic sustainability.
For the "Epaminondas" space
The Arts Center will be erected in the "Epaminonda" area, west of the Garyllis River, on Aiolou Street, near the Second Pole of the CUT and in the area of the former Limassol General Hospital.
The location is part of a wider cultural network which, according to the Municipality, includes the former "Taksim" cinema, the Municipal Art Gallery and the Polydoridis Kiosk.
The aim of the architectural competition is to secure a proposal that will be evaluated not only in terms of its architecture and aesthetics, but also in terms of its urban, cultural, environmental, economic, functional and construction dimension.
€265,000 in prizes
For the proposals that will be distinguished, a total of €265,000 in cash prizes is foreseen:First Prize: €100,000
Second Prize: €75,000
Third Prize: €50,000
Up to two Honourable Mentions: €20,000 each
The winner of the First Prize will be entrusted, as foreseen, with the completion of the study and the supervision of the implementation of the project.
The Jury
Of particular interest is the composition of the 9-member Jury, which, in addition to representatives of the architectural and urban planning world, includes people from the field of contemporary art, cultural management and performing arts.
The president is the architect and Mayor of Limassol Yiannis Armeftis.
Members are:Giorgos Georgiou, architect, representative of ETEK
Vasiliki Constantinou, architect, Limassol Municipality Technical Department
Andriani Charalambous, architect, representative of the Department of Town Planning and Housing
Markella Menoikou, architect, representative of the Cyprus Architects Association
Georgia Decker, Cultural Manager
Louli Michailidou, theorist and curator of contemporary art, cultural management
Christodoulos Panagiotou, artist
Stefanos Drousiotis, theater director and lighting designer.
This composition reflects the intention that the design of the Centre should be examined not only as an architectural project but also in relation to its function as a cultural organisation.
Until March 2027, the proposals
The tender process has already begun. The announcement was made on September 18, while the visit to the site is set for September 28, at 8 a.m.
The deadline for submitting questions and comments is 9 November 2026, while the Contracting Authority's responses will be made public on 30 November.
Architectural proposals must be submitted by March 22, 2027, at 12 noon. The announcement of the results is scheduled for April 19, 2027, while the award ceremony and the publication of the Jury's reasoning will take place on May 17, 2027.
Architects with a valid license to practice the profession are eligible to participate, while multidisciplinary teams led and coordinated by an architect, as well as design offices and limited liability companies, can also participate, provided that they meet the requirements of the announcement. The official language of the competition is English.
Documents are available free of charge through the electronic eProcurement system.
