Located in Paphos, the project envisions a Center for Youth Entrepreneurship and Vocational Training that brings together the reconstruction of a listed building complex and the addition of a new structure.
The existing complex follows the typology of the han — a courtyard enclosed by single-storey shops arranged in a Γ-shaped layout, each with direct access to the central space. Yet the han is more than a courtyard; it is an urban event. It interrupts the continuity of the urban fabric to create an inner enclave — secluded but in dialogue with the city. This Mediterranean typology blends the commercial with the social, turning space into a shared civic experience.
The new building draws inspiration from this idea. Mirroring the existing structure, it is also organized in a Γ-shaped plan, together defining a trapezoidal courtyard. The narrow side of this courtyard opens toward the city, inviting the public to enter and inhabit the space.
At its heart lies the open courtyard — a mediating field between old and new, between the city and the community it serves. The new building becomes a quiet backdrop that returns public space to the city: a small green enclave that adds depth, openness, and perspective to the urban experience.
