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The International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture and Urbanism (INTBAU) Cyprus, a whole island (cross-country) initiative, was launched in Famagusta (Gazimağusa/Αμμόχωστος) on September 27, 2009. As a nascent organisation, its first mandate is to promote the general principles of INTBAU’s Charter while encouraging the study, conservation and new construction of Traditional Architecture and Urbanism in Cyprus.

INTBAU Cyprus aims to bring together academics, practitioners, community leaders and general supporters in order to promote the values of traditional building, architecture and urbanism and together cope with the problems of traditional context of Cyprus.

The Cypriot Chapter seeks to promote a wider dialogue about how to learn from the precedents and value of traditional building resources in order to meet modern challenges. Certainly, traditional environments, patterns and processes have much to teach us about human habitats that are beautiful, liveable, peaceful, energy efficient, and ecologically and culturally sustainable.

INTBAU Cyprus proposes that tradition is an organic process that embraces the cultural layers of life experiences of its society. The Island of Cyprus bears affluent multicultural traditions and accumulative architectural heritage which forms an amalgamation of prevailing cultures in the region in the past. INTBAU Cyprus believes that we must reconcile with our shared culture through the recognition of our common architectural heritage.

The Cypriot Chapter’s objectives over the next three years are the following:

To support studies, projects and activities in Cyprus that fulfil INTBAU’s values and principles
To encourage discussions on the diverse local identities, accumulative cultures and also local traditional architecture of Cyprus as the shared values of all Cypriots
To propose a trustworthy platform for co-operation amongst the people of Cyprus in order to recognize and promote Cypriot architectural heritage
To advocate the preservation and promotion of traditional buildings with special emphasis on the use of local materials and technologies
To encourage Cypriot people to maintain and restore traditional buildings, and to build new buildings and places that contribute to traditional environments and improve the quality of life in the settlements of the Island
To enable beneficiaries to gain the confidence and competence to participate in the design, implementation and continuing operation of activities that affect the quality of their lives.
To strengthen discussion towards cultural continuity, sustainable developments, and ecological/contextual design
To engage in awareness campaigns about the local, vernacular and traditional cultures, buildings and settlements of Cyprus through socio-cultural activities, bulletins and e-publications, seminars, conferences, training courses and workshops

INTBAU Cyprus seeks to achieve this goal by drawing together all those with an interest in advancing the values associated with traditional design philosophies, sustainable architecture and urbanism, responsible community-based architecture and the conservation of built and natural environments. It seeks to promote research, scholarship and development of effective new strategies, methods and practices within traditional contexts.

We welcome enquiries from individuals and organizations interested in contributing to the network from all over the Island. To join the INTBAU Cyprus email group, please first join as an INTBAU member and then contact INTBAU Cyprus.

For more information please contact us at:

Ozgur Dincyurek

Secretary General

INTBAU Cyprus

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