CULTURAL TRANSLATION OF THE COMMERCIAL STREETS IN NICOSIA

ARCH 501

ABBAS HEDAYAT 105228 OLDOUZ ASSADZADEH 105440NASTARAN CHEGINI 105075

Presentation Structure

Research Question/Aim Keywords Theoretical information about commercial streets

Definition of commercial streets General information about Nicosia (Visual, physical, social

characteristics) Commercial streets in old part of the city Commercial streets in new development part of the city

Physical/Visual/Social aspect of the streets Case Studies

Cafe/Restaurant Old/New Shop Old/New Cultural Center Old/New

Land Use of the Streets Effect of Cultural Translation in Both Old and New part of the City Comparison Reference

Research Question/Aim

What is the effect of cultural translation on OLD and NEW part of the city(Nicosia)?

Keywords

Cultural translation: Interaction of different cultures in various mediums where they adopt, borrow and translate from one another

Socialization: Interaction between people Interaction: Create social contact between people Rehabilitation: The process of returning a building to

its original state of utility by means of repair or alteration

Revitalization: Bringing again in to activity and prominence

Identity:Identity is the characteristics that differentiates objects or persons from each other and gives oneness to them.

Theoretical information about commercial streets

Definition of street :A number of buildings facing a common open space. The street is not only a means of access but also an arena for social expression.

Street Proportion: The ratio of width of street to height of enclosing buildings is critical for good street design. When, for example, a street is long and wide with two-storey houses ranged along a common frontage all sense of space enclosure is lost.

Narrow streets also facilitate shopping; movement from side to side for window gazing its much easier for the shoppers and indeed is effected by the physical form of the buildings.

Theoretical information about commercial streets UNITY IN STREET DESIGN: the buildings should

appear as surfaces rather than as mass. When buildings take on strong three-dimensional form the mass of the buildings dominates the scene and the space loses its importance. When the buildings ranged along a street have varied forms, styles and treatment the space loses definition and identity.

the use of common materials, details and architectural elements strengthen the unity in many street scenes.

Theoretical information about commercial streets

General information about Nicosia (Visual, physical, social characteristics) The original town from which Nicosia

developed was known as Ledra. The city is better known by Medieval name,

Nicosia. It lies just to the north of the geographical centre of the island at an elevation of 160 meters. The immediate surroundings of the city are perfectly flat; to the south only some terrace-shaped heights make their appearance (Salvator, 1983).

during the Early Byzantine period the town took the name Lefkosa, meaning poplar grove

General information about Nicosia (Visual, physical, social characteristics) After the sack of Nicosia by Genoese in 1373, it was walled for the

first time (der Perthog, 1994). In 1570 the Ottomans conquered Nicosia. As a result of this, city

began to take on an Eastern look with enclosed balconies, latticed windows or dominated minarets to the skyline (der Perthog, 1994).

During this period the town changed its aristocratic-feudal character to a modern one, and acquired additional infrastructure, new buildings and facilities for public use: public baths for men and women, aqueducts and fountains to bring into the town, libraries and hostels, all in line with the new Ottoman habits and culture. Besides, existing buildings were transformed to serve better requirements of the new society and its way of life. Parallel to these developments, it also expanded its commercial quarters along east and west axis, formerly a river bed which crossed the town, as a unifying infrastructure for the entire city. The main commercial centre of the city and the other related facilities were concentrated along this axis; caravanserais, covered streets, which were called arasta, open porticoes with shops underneath, and markets of various kinds. Beside, the most important church in the town, St. Sophia Cathedral was converted into a mosque and its squares were used as an open market area (Doratli, 2000).

Nicosia started to expand rapidly after the end of World War II. Its suburbs expanded rapidly during that period. Nicosia has not only faced expansion outside the walls, but also demolition and destruction of old buildings in the walled city (Sahin. N, Daratli. N. 2009).

General information about Nicosia (Visual, physical, social characteristics)

District typology

C CULTURAL

TR

TRADITIONAL

RE

RECREATIONAL

CO

COMMERCIAL

A ADDMINISTRATIVE

R RESIDENTIAL

M MIXUSE

E EDUCATIONAL

General information about Nicosia (Visual, physical, social characteristics)

Sarayonu Street

Ledra Street

Arasta Street

Lokmaci Street

The Old City by wonderful architecture is surrounded with Venetian wall in which the shoppers are covered by Belediye Pazarı market, and the Büyük Han (Great Inn), recently restored, is a busy centre for tourists and locals alike. The entrance to the walled city is Kyrenia gate .we can see examples of Gothic architecture such as Selimiye mosque. Also other examples from different eras like;Turkish bath and Venetian columns.

Commercial streets in old part of the city

Commercial streets in old part of the city Before, 1882, the main corridor of commercial activities

was in east-west direction towards Famagusta. Existence of two gates, Famagusta and Paphos, has facilitated the interrelationship in this direction.

The shift of commercial activities resulted in the increase of density and height of buildings, which consequently changed urban pattern.

Direction of development Before 1882

Direction of development After 1882

Commercial streets in old part of the city

Market and square: market is the ideal precedent of the Ottoman city, the integrated quarter of the past served as a model for the creation of a new place of interaction ( Salvator, 1983).

Market first developed along streets before assuming the form of a defined urban space. For this reason, many new market squares were located immediately next to an important religious building or at the periphery near a town gate. There were usually several markets specializing in various commodities indeed, the entire medieval city functioned as a market.

Commercial streets in old part of the city

The ottoman city contained several market types. The bedesten, or market hall was originally

used for the sale of silk and other precious fabrics although later many of these were transformed to markets for jewellery (Entoniades, 1991).

Bazaars (closed market) were very common for both Turks and Greeks at the past. They were the centers of social life: they extended between the gates of Famagusta and Paphos, and in this manner cut the town fairly in half. They were generally open, simply covered with mats and linen rugs; only four and half of them have regular roof. These were the centers of social life.

Commercial streets in old part of the city

Sarayonu Street

Ledra StreetArasta Street

Arasta Street Lokmaci Street

Sarayonu Street

Metropole road

Kaymakli road

Dereboyo Street

Lemar road

This new streets are located out of the walled city and they built in the modern areas of the lefkosa. They are mostly used for commercial purposes , but also they include some residential buildings, And some of them are multifunctional buildings, there are shops at the ground floor and houses on the top floors. There are some lands that there is no construction on them.Unfortunately these new buildings don’t have any harmony in terms of facades and materials.The buildings themselves have their own style but when they gathered in the street next to each other they do not create an identity and style for the street.

Commercial streets in new development part of the city

One problem for the new commercial streets is the integration of car parking within the pedestrian and surrounding urban fabric is weak.

the city being in a hot country, its streets ought to be made narrow, and the houses high, that by their shade, and by the narrowness of the streets, the heat of the site may be tempered.

Streets and their sidewalks, the main public places of a city, are its most vital organs which we couldn’t see well designed in new commercial streets.

Commercial streets in new development part of the city

Commercial streets in new development part of the city

Metropole road

Kaymakli road

Dereboyo Street

Lemar roadDereboyo Street

Kaymakli road

The Physical aspects of the streets

The physical form of the streets

OLD CITY NEW CITY

Name of the street

ARASTASTREET

LOKMACI STREET

LEDRA STREET

SARAYONUSTREET

DEREBOYUSTREET

METROPOLSTREET

LEMARSTREET

KAYMAKLISTREET

Straight or curved

straight straight straight straight curved straight curved straight

Long or short

short short short short long long long long

Wide or narrow

Narrow Narrow Narrow Narrow Wide Wide Wide Wide

Density high high high high low low low low

Pedestrian pathway

continuous continuous continuous Uncontinuous

Continuous Uncontinuous

Uncontinuous

Uncontinuous

The Social aspects of the streets

The social form of the streets

OLD CITY NEW CITY

Name of the street

ARASTASTREET

LOKMACI STREET

LEDRA STREET

SARAYONUSTREET

DEREBOYUSTREET

METROPOLSTREET

LEMARSTREET

KAYMAKLISTREET

Users Native/Tourist /Greeks

Native/Tourist /Greeks

Native Native/Tourist Native/Students

Native Native Native

Degree of interaction

High High High High High low low low

Space & Identity

Exist Exist Exist Non-exist Exist Non-exist Non-exist Non-exist

Socializing places

Bazar/ Mosque/ BuyukHan

Mosque Café/Restaurant

Mevlavi Museum/Public square

Café/Restaurant

Park/Restaurant

Stadium Cemetery

The Visual aspects of the streets

The visual form of the streets OLD CITY NEW CITY

Name of the street

ARASTASTREET

LOKMACI STREET

LEDRA STREET

SARAYONUSTREET

DEREBOYUSTREET

METROPOLSTREET

LEMARSTREET

KAYMAKLISTREET

Material Traditional yellow stone

Traditional yellow stone

Traditional yellow stone

Traditional yellow stone

Modern Materials(Concrete)

Modern Materials(Concrete)

Modern Materials(Concrete)

Modern Materials(Concrete)

Roof Line Clear Clear Clear Unclear Unclear Unclear Unclear Unclear

Average Height of the buildings

1-2 Stories

1-2 Stories 1-2 Stories 1-2 Stories 3-4 Stories 3-4 Stories 3-4 Stories 3-4 Stories

Variety of land use

yes yes yes yes yes no no yes

Relationship between outside/inside of the building

strong strong strong strong strong weak weak weak

CASE STUDIES

LEDRA roadCAFE: Starbucks Coffee

Visual Analysi

s

Social Analysi

s

Physical Analysis

DEREBOYO STREET

RESTAURANT: Califorian Restaurant

Visual Analysi

s

Social Analysi

s

Physical Analysis

LEDRA road SHOPS

Visual Analysi

s

Social Analysi

s

Physical Analysis

METROPOL STREET

SHOP: Metropol

Visual Analysi

s

Social Analysi

s

Physical Analysis

SARAYONU road MUSEUM: Mevlevi Museum

Visual Analysi

s

Social Analysi

s

Physical Analysis

DEREBOYO STREET MUSEUM: Museum of BARBARITY

Visual Analysi

s

Social Analysi

s

Physical Analysis

Land use of the streetsOLD CITY NEW CITY

Name of the

street

ARASTA

STREET

LOKMACI STREET

LEDRA STREET

SARAYONUSTREET

DEREBOYUSTREET

METROPOLSTREET

LEMARSTREET

KAYMAKLISTREET

shops 30 24 109 34 46 46 53 48

café/restaurant

3 5 23 5 4 4 9 4

Museum/cultural

center and cinema

•traditional hamam: 1•Mosque: 2

2 0 2 1 1 1 0

others •Empty building:17•Banks and exchanges:4

•Hotel/casino: 2•Law court: 1 Police station: 1 Betting house: 1•Insurance company: 2

•Number of banks &exchange: 4•Betting: 1 High school: 1 Park: 1

•Stadium:1

Public/Private

Users

Function

Architectural

Element

Effect of cultural translation in both old and new part of the city

Cultural translatio

n

New additions did not affect the physical structure of the public open spaces in the walled city

Cyprus is affected by people from different cultures and it influenced people lifestyle.

In old part of the city residential houses mostly changed to commercial proposes

Architectural elements from different cultures can be seen in features of the buildings in both old and new part of the city, for instance, capitals of columns, Cypriot arches and semi-open spaces like terraces.

Walled city of Nicosia had faced with different cultures throughout the history. And historic building existing in this city remained from different periods. Due to the effect of these different cultures, buildings were constructed with special characteristics features of those periods. Especially buildings located in the traditional or cultural districts reflect the characteristic features and architectural details of those periods. Since new additions did not affect the physical structure of the public open spaces in the walled city, they almost preserved its original character except the deterioration and obsolescence occurred as a result of improper maintenance.

Effect of cultural translation in both old and new part of the city

Commercial districts are the focal points of both northern and southern part of the walled city. In the southern part pedestrian streets are the most common type of public open spaces.

Ledra Street has been rehabilitated. In the northern part, commercial district is one

of the magnet points of the city. Primary vehicular street and the major square located at the center of this district. However, like southern part of the city commercial districts are not very rich in terms of public open space variety.

Effect of cultural translation in both old and new part of the city

There is big difference between old and new part of the city which influence on social, visual and physical aspects.

From social aspect there are more gathering squares in the old part and the pedestrian ways designed more efficiently in the old streets and this factor could create more interaction between people but in new commercial streets we observed that the cars which are parked in front of the shops are blocking the windows of the shops and pedestrian pathway.

In the Ledra street we can see that the historical houses are given a new function and new identity by transforming them to commercial places. This transformation prevented the historical buildings to be neglected and be forgotten so by giving them a new function these buildings have been given a new life and identity, and that is called Revitalization.

COMPARISON

In social point of view, in the old part of the town, interaction of people is more than the new development areas because of the social gathering places that are designed in the heart of the streets of old city.

The historical buildings are attracting people as landmarks by their specific architectural style in the old part of the city but this focal point is missing in the new development areas.

In the new development areas of the city, the only places that are good for socialization are the places that people should spend money to be able to gather but on the other hand, in the old parts of the city there are many places for people to gather and socialize freely.

The narrow pedestrianized city street with continuous enclosing walls slightly higher than street width are most successful for some old commercial streets.

COMPARISON

SHOPSVehicular road

Pedestrian pathway

SHOPSPedestrian street

Transformation of private & public spaces in old and new part of the city

Space organization in new part of the city

Space organization in new part of the city

Metropol

Lokmaci

•the density of the buildings in new streets are decreasing in comparison to the walled city.

•In the old part of the city we witness that the density of the buildings are higher than the new parts.•The shops are placed near to each other without any empty space between them.

COMPARISON

Old Part of the city New development part of the city

DEREBOYO STREET

METROPOL STREET

LEMAR STREET

KAYMAKLI STREET

ARASTA STREET

LOKMACI STREET

LEDRA road

SARAYONU road

COMPARISON

References

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Keshishian, K. (1960). A Comprehensive guide for tourists and travellers: Romantic Cyprus. Stourbridge: Mark and Moody Ltd.

Der Parthog, G. (1994). Byzantine and Medieval Cyprus: Aguide to the monuments. UK: Interworld Publications.

Salvator, L. (1983). Levkosia: the Capital city of Cyprus. London: Trigrap. Demi, D. (1991). The walled city of Nicosia, Atypology study, Nicosia

master plan (unpublished report). Nicosia: UNDP. Doratli, N. (2000), A model for conservation and revitalisation of historic

urban quarters in TRNC Cyprus. Unpublished Ph.D Thesis, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta.

Moughtin, C., (2003), STREET AND SQUARE, Oxford ,Architectural Press, An imprint of Elsevier Science, Linacre House, Jordan Hill.

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