NET-WORK

A CULTURAL COMPLEX INTERCONNECTED BY A FABRIC ROOF STRUCTURE

The rich history of rural life in Paphos is being swallowed by suburban and touristic development. The project seeks to celebrate the rural history of the site and to foster future evolution and integration of these cultures.

In this regard, NET.WORK is a platform to showcase contemporary and historic agriculture. The most significant preservation is that of the rural heritage, intermingled with agricultural customs and lifestyle. The specified program acts as an incubator for handicraft, animal livestock, traditional cooking and organic farming as well as a cultural catalyst for sustainable tourism and local economy

The buildings complement the scale of these activities and directly engage with a diverse range of landscape, e.g. orchard, gardens, grove, and vegetable farms. Historic buildings frame a natural gathering space - a central node to stretch and reach out to grasp outlying opportunities in the immediate vicinity. Intentionally designed as a minimally programmed and flexible space, the square offers both a welcoming gateway and attractive destination for the new district.

An 8000sqm roof net further acts as a binding element for a diverse set of programs by physically linking them. A simple re-interpretation of the use of traditional farming nets, the net expands the range of spatial and microclimatic experience as well as the amount of useable area at a marginal cost.

Given the threatened, rich history of the area, the proposal seeks to find a series of spaces that stay true to the culture and spatial qualities of the area, while still offering something new and fresh. The projects look backwards, in order to see the way forward.

Project@Maxwan