ARC Department of Architecture,University of Nicosia

The Department of Architecture, cordially invites you to the Opening of the End of Year Exhibition on Friday, 19 June 2026 at 18:30 at the Architecture Research Centre [ARC], University of Nicosia.

Schedule
18:30 – 18:45 Introduction and Welcoming Speech
18:45 – 19:15 Presentation of Honors Projects
19:15 – 19:30 Awards Ceremony
19:30 Cocktail Reception

The End of Year Exhibition is a great opportunity to revel in the creative work of students. It provides an insight into the studies of architecture and interior design and the opportunity to interact with students and faculty alike.

The Exhibition will remain open to the public as follows:
Duration: 19 June – 10 July 2026
Opening hours: 08:00 – 18:00, Monday-Friday
Venue: Architecture Research Centre [ARC], University of Nicosia

For more information:
T: 22842600/601 | E: [email protected] | Website: unic.ac.cy/arc/

SHARE Cyprus International Architecture Forum is the place where architectural leadership connects

Architecture may be born in isolation, but it flourishes through dialogue, the exchange of ideas, and the courage to shape the future. While trends shift and the “fast everything” culture extends even to fields such as design and architecture, the true engine of progress remains people and the communities they create.

On May 15, the SHARE Cyprus International Architecture Forum continues its tradition of high-level dialogue with its 6th edition in Nicosia. Throughout a day of intensive exchange, we will have the honour of seeing on stage leaders of international practice and top experts. They will present landmark projects that redefine the global urban landscape, sustainability, and cultural identity.

The forum is the result of a close partnership between SHARE Architects and leaders of the local professional community, guided by a distinguished organising committee: Constantinos Constanti (President of ETEK), Alkis Dikaios (President of CAA), Christos Christodoulou (SHARE Society Ambassador Cyprus), and Florin Mindirigiu (Co-founder of SHARE Architects). Alongside them, partners and genuine thought leaders such as Muskita Aluminium Industries, Official Partner, are helping transform this forum into a key platform for innovation and strategic networking between architects and the construction industry.

Why should you attend SHARE Cyprus 2026?

Designed as a dynamic networking and learning platform for architects, designers, and professionals in the construction industry, this forum offers the unique opportunity to:

Gain exclusive insights and discover cutting-edge strategies in master planning and urban regeneration.

Learn directly from global leaders (Zaha Hadid Architects, BIG, LAVA).

Explore innovative technical solutions presented by market-leading partners.

Connect with an exclusive community of decision-makers and visionaries.


An Unmissable Lineup

True to our mission, we’re continuing SHARE’s to bring together practising architects and the leaders of influential firms shaping contemporary architecture. This year, the stage in Nicosia will serve as a forum for creative minds from all corners of the globe to exchange ideas.

Attendees will gain rare insights into the vision of Zaha Hadid Architects through Maurizio Meossi, the mastermind behind major projects such as the NSC Science Center in Singapore

Pushing the boundaries of sustainability, Tobias Wallisser, founder of the visionary LAVA (Germany), will explore the nexus of technology and nature, while Jeremy Smith (Irving Smith Architects, New Zealand) showcases his award-winning timber expertise—highlighting Te Whare Nui o Tuteata, the 'World Timber Building of the Year.' The program is rounded out by Giovanni Ferrara (Luca Dini, Italy), who will delve into the nuances of luxury coastal design, and Benjamin Walker of LDA Design (UK), who will champion the vital role of community-centred master planning.

The contemporary architectural landscape will be complemented by the compelling regional perspectives offered by Almotasem Attiyah (Clear Architecture, Saudi Arabia), known for the Yusur Towers; Aida Aydinyan of Storaket Studio (Armenia), with her expertise in multifunctional complexes; and Miruna Pribeagu (Reflex Architecture, Romania), who will illustrate the perfect balance between aesthetics and functionality in residential design through the Iris House and House N projects.

A Celebration of Architectural Excellence

Quality architecture is 10% creativity and 90% courage. The courage to envision spaces that enrich the human experience and to innovate. That is why a central moment of the forum on May 15 will be dedicated to recognising the people behind the projects, inviting three of the creative minds who made their mark at the SHARE Architecture Awards 2025 to the stage. These winners represent both the success of individual projects and living proof of the extraordinary potential of contemporary architecture in the region.

We are honoured to explore the creative journey of Eleni K. Tsolaki (Kyriakos Tsolakis Architects), whose project, the Troodos Observatory, was named Overall Winner. Her project is a model of strategic clarity and sensitivity, demonstrating how a scientific instrument can become a spiritual destination, suspended between earth and sky.

Joining her, Georgios Kalavas (Agisilaou & Kalavas Architectural Workshop), winner of the Completed Buildings category, will take us through the story of the “Aphrodite” Thematic Trail, a lesson in how architecture can guide visitors through nature and history with understated elegance.

Last but not least, Pavlos Schizas (MSSM Associates), recipient of an Honourable Mention, will present *The Origami House*. This project is a masterclass in geometric exploration, offering a fascinating dialogue between architectural innovation and the specific urban fabric of Nicosia.

These architects serve as a powerful reminder that excellence is rooted in rigour, passion, and a profound respect for context.

Participation Details

Registrations are open for professionals and technology partners.

The event is supported by prestigious partners: Muskita Aluminum Industries, Knauf, and AGC.

Full details and the agenda are available on the event website: share-architects.com.

About SHARE Architects

SHARE Architects is an international platform dedicated to promoting excellence in architecture and facilitating professional dialogue on a global level. By organizing conferences, forums, and networking events across Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East, SHARE Architects brings together renowned architects, industry leaders, and professionals from related fields, contributing to the exchange of ideas, innovation, and best practices. Over time, the platform has become an important landmark for the architectural community, supporting sustainable development and the quality of the built environment.

1-Day Workshop | April 27, 2026 | 9:00–18:00
ARC, Department of Architecture, University of Nicosia
We invite you to participate in an intensive one-day workshop exploring the evolving role of AI in architectural design.
As AI tools generate an unprecedented abundance of possibilities, the role of the architect is shifting—from selecting outputs to actively shaping, framing, and taking ownership of them. This workshop focuses on that transition: from curation toward authorship.
Participants will work through a series of guided exercises using tools such as Midjourney, ChatGPT, and Nano Banana, developing strategies to critically evaluate, refine, and transform AI-generated material into coherent architectural propositions. Emphasis will be placed on decision-making, positioning, and the articulation of intent.
This workshop is open to architects and students (ages 17–99) interested in expanding their design methodologies and engaging critically with emerging technologies.
Organized by:
Michalis Georgiou
Alessandra Swiny
Assistants:
Pia Bernhardt
Anastasia Leontiou
Christina Christoforou
Additional Faculty:
Stavros Voskaris
Demetris Ktorides
Solon Solomou
For more information or to reserve a place:
[email protected]

1-Day Workshop | April 27, 2026 | 9:00–18:00
ARC, Department of Architecture, University of Nicosia
We invite you to participate in an intensive one-day workshop exploring the evolving role of AI in architectural design.

As AI tools generate an unprecedented abundance of possibilities, the role of the architect is shifting—from selecting outputs to actively shaping, framing, and taking ownership of them. This workshop focuses on that transition: from curation toward authorship.
Participants will work through a series of guided exercises using tools such as Midjourney, ChatGPT, and Nano Banana, developing strategies to critically evaluate, refine, and transform AI-generated material into coherent architectural propositions. Emphasis will be placed on decision-making, positioning, and the articulation of intent.
This workshop is open to architects and students (ages 17–99) interested in expanding their design methodologies and engaging critically with emerging technologies.

Organized by:
Michalis Georgiou
Alessandra Swiny
Assistants:
Pia Bernhardt
Anastasia Leontiou
Christina Christoforou
Additional Faculty:
Stavros Voskaris
Demetris Ktorides
Solon Solomou
For more information or to reserve a place:
[email protected]

Workshop Output

Structured in three phases, the workshop culminates in the production of a 1:20 sectional perspective drawing. This final output will synthesize the design process, articulating a spatial proposition that integrates program, structure, and material logic.

Particular emphasis is placed on the development of an intermediary architectural skin—a threshold condition negotiating between interior and exterior environments. Students will be expected to move beyond image production, grounding their proposals in tectonic clarity, environmental responsiveness, and material specificity, translating AI-generated explorations into a coherent and situated architectural argument.

A slightly delayed, off-season post.
Celebrating the end of the year with the ARCH261 students. The faculty (Michalis Georgiou and Christina Christoforou ) together with the 2nd-year students, design, fabricate, and assemble the school Xmas tree as part of an annual tradition, accompanied by mulled wine and music!

This year’s tree was made from black acrylic pieces, carefully bent using a bending machine, requiring a high level of precision for all components to come together successfully.

The Department of Architecture invites you to the guest lecture “Why Architectural Competitions? Why Europe? Why Europan?”, by Ivan Capdevila, University of Alicante on March 31, 2026 at 19:00 @ Architecture Research Centre [ARC].
The lecture will be followed by a round table discussion with:
Iván Capdevila, Michalis Kosmas, Margarita Danou, Socrates Stratis, Grigoris Kalnis, Maria Hadjisoteriou, Alessandra Swiny, Paris Philippou

Iván Capdevila is a PhD Architect (2013) and holds an M.Arch from the Bartlett School of Architecture, London (2004). He belongs to the first generation of architects to graduate from the University of Alicante (1996–2003), where he has been a Professor of Architectural Projects since 2007 and Coordinator of the Architectural Projects Area since 2022.

He was the Coordinator of Final Architecture Projects from 2014 to 2020 at the UA and a Guest Professor at Soongsil University in Seoul, South Korea, in 2012 and at the University of Monterrey, Mexico, in 2024. He has combined his teaching activity with research, primarily through architectural competitions. With more than a dozen awards in international competitions, his five first prizes (2003, 2005, 2015, 2017, and 2019) in the prestigious Europan competition stand out. Europan is held biennially since 1988 in various locations across Europe. This has allowed him, in parallel, to both disseminate his work in specialized publications and exhibitions and participate in forums and conferences around the world. Iván understands architectural design as a game, mainly characterized by the association and unprejudiced manipulation (sometimes ironic, sometimes naïve, sometimes nostalgic, sometimes celebratory, but always playful) of images, events, myths, technologies... as well as architectural culture itself. With a current focus on discovering the Mediterranean condition in the domestic sphere and in the context of the Spanish Levante (since 2020), he develops his research activity primarily through practice, both in the design of single-family houses and collective housing buildings — through public competitions for social housing, having obtained 3 awards to date.

You are warmly invited to attend the Catalyst Final Presentations for Spring 2026, where students will present the outcomes of this semester’s Catalyst courses.

This semester marks a significant milestone, as it is the first time since 2014 that four Catalysts have been running in parallel. We are particularly pleased to see the programme return to its original format, reaffirming the dynamic and diverse course structure that characterises the Department of Architecture.

Running Catalysts – Spring 2026:

Living Surfaces – Moss as a Biophilic Design Medium – Laura Stefania Efthymiou
Daydreams, Portals and 3D Scanning – Demetris Ktorides
Yacht Design – Intensive Course – Dr Martina Callegaro
Sumi Ink Painting – Milenko Stevanovic

Date: Friday, 20 March
Time: 17:30 – 18:30
Location: ARC Main Amphitheatre

The presentations will be followed by a closing gathering in the backyard, with BBQ and beers—an opportunity to celebrate the work of our students and conclude the semester together.

The Department of Architecture at the University of Nicosia invites you to the Info Session: Becoming an Architect and Interior Designer on a Wonderful Saturday Morning on Saturday, 28 February 2026, from 09:30 – 15:00 at the Architecture Research Center (ARC).

This event is designed for high school students, offering them the opportunity to explore the fields of Architecture and Interior Design.

For more information:

Christina Evripidou | E: [email protected] | T: 22841529

The proposal of our faculty member and alumni, for the ‘Environmental Information Centre in the Natura 2000 Network Area at the Larnaca Salt Lakes’ Architectural Competition presents a sensitive and thoughtful response to the landscape and its ecological context.

During site exploration, the team identified a conflict between the proposed building location and the site’s key views, alongside the need to protect the sensitive habitat while allowing visitors to meaningfully engage with the Alyki landscape. This dual condition became the starting point for the project’s main design principle.

Through movement and exploration, visitors experience a sequence of spatial and visual transitions, where the landscape is strategically revealed and obscured, enhancing its experiential perception.

The Environmental Centre does not function as a final destination, but rather as an intermediate stop along the walker–visitor’s path, providing infrastructure for research, information, and education, while maintaining a direct yet carefully controlled relationship with the natural environment.

See more information about the proposal in the link below:
https://www.inb2instudio.com/ #/alykes-environmental-centre/

Principal Architects: Maria Hadjisotiriou, Antonis Peratikos
Collaborators: Thanos Stergiou, Savvas Savva
Civil Engineer: Andros Achileos, ASD Hyperstatic Engineering Design
Quantity Surveyor: Koulis Nicolaou, Nicolaou & Konnides LLC

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Unit 10, comprised of students from Year 4 and Year 5 and titled Self-Sustained Community in Extreme Environments, has completed its first semester journey. Led by Eleonore Zippelius, Dr Petros Lapithis and Dr Anna Papadopoulou, the students explored sustainable design while pushing questions of climate, resources, technology, and collective living. The work demonstrated strong architectural thinking, care, imagination, and a willingness to engage with complex global challenges.
Gratitude to all invited critics for their time, insight, and thoughtful feedback. Marios Kazamias Andreas Tomas Andreou Theodora Papanastasiou Katerina Neofytidou Anthimos Papapericleous Theodora Lymboura Christos Xenofontos