'City-zen Roadshow' Nicosia - REPORT

Abstract

The City-zen Roadshow travels with a team of internationally recognized experts, in the field of energy planning and design to help develop a sustainable agenda for cities and their neighbourhoods. The Roadshow visited 9 cities in total over a 5-year period who sort expert guidance on how to become more sustainable and wish to move towards energy neutrality. The overall aim of the Roadshow team was to work closely with people from the hosting city, whether they be city leaders, energy planners, local architect, professionals, academics, students and citizens.

In Nicosia, the Roadshow spent 8 days delivering energy and urban design fun-shops to local stakeholders in order to encourage city participation and to take ownership of the final outcomes. Outcomes that will allow the cities resources, both people and energy, to be directed effectively, by highlighting the energy challenges and potentials to be found in their neighbourhoods, and to finally present a sustainable ‘City Vision’.

The following report describes the activities and outcomes of the City-zen Nicosia Roadshow that took place in Cyprus between the 8th to 15th of May 2019.

The Nicosia Roadshow would not have been possible without the commitments and passion of three individuals. Phidias Pilides (Former President, Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Fikri Toros (Republican Turkish Party) and Dr. Markella Menikou (Head of Architecture, University of Nicosia). Three highly influential stakeholders that came together across political and geographical boundaries to begin a process within the only divided city in Europe, to co-create a shared sustainable city vision for Nicosia.

The Roadshow team would like to take this opportunity to highlight the impactful contributions of the Dutch Embassy in Cyprus. A special mention must go to Marios Touvanas (Policy Officer, Dutch Embassy). Marios’ daily efforts during the preparation period in the months leading up to the Roadshow were vital for success. Marios’ unique knowledge of Nicosia and its ongoing efforts to become sustainable gave greater reach to the project. In addition, the roles that Ambassador Nathalie Jaarsma and Mark Rutger (Deputy Head of Mission at Embassy) took were pivotal in encouraging all stakeholders to participate to connect with their wider networks. The Roadshow networking event held at the Ambassador’s Residence on the second day of the Roadshow was an outstanding effort and is sure to influence sustainability stakeholder initiatives in the future.

Special thanks must go to the University of Nicosia and their Department of Architecture (ARC) for hosting TU Delft’s SWAT Studio for two weeks in February and the later Roadshow. The collaborations made between students, staff and alumni gave a strong foundation for the later Roadshow. For this we thank Dr. Markella Menikou for giving her time, commitment, knowledge and extensive network during some challenging periods during the preparations. Further we appreciate the hospitality given by Nicosia’s ‘Home for Cooperation’ for being exactly that, ‘a home’ to the Roadshow in those days within the UN buffer zone in May 2019. The venues for the Nicosia Roadshow were selected to optimise participation. They were also unique and challenging in nature being located in the UN Buffer itself. This didn’t come without many challenges. Challenges that were made extremely worthwhile and easier thanks to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) who donated rooms within their Ledra Palace HQ for the Roadshow design studios and the Go2zero serious game. Further, the final event would be extremely well hosted by director and founder Rita Severis the Centre of Visual Arts and Research (CVAR). Final thanks must go to Prof. Panikkos Poutziouris (Rector, UCLan Cyprus) for showing the team such hospitality during a field trip to the Buffer zone. Prof. Poutziouris’ extensive insight of the island history, customs and etiquette helped tremendously in the strategic planning of the Roadshow.