Gort Scott and Sela-Jaymes Architects have been awarded an AR Future Projects Award 2023 in the Competition Entry Prize category for Nea Paphos. The project design was shortlisted in this international competition for mosaic shelters at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Nea Paphos, the ancient capital of Cyprus, for the Getty Conservation Institute.

Our proposals for Nea Paphos encompass the creation of delicate sheltering structures to cover and protect some of the world’s finest surviving Roman mosaics, on a very sensitive UNESCO World Heritage site.

The design incorporated lightweight reversible timber structures, to allow for visual connections through the shelters and minimise any impacts on the landscape and setting.

Protecting the heritage site was a priority at every stage of the design process, with innovative structural solutions introduced to resist the effects of wind and seismic activity whilst eliminating the need for foundations to avoid any impact on the extensive archaeology.

The proposals utilised local materials, and were designed as a ‘kit of parts’ to take account of the availability of local skills and resources, whilst reducing site logistics and associated impacts by maximising off-site fabrication.

Observing the context of the site the wider proposals interpret its history, restoring historic movement patterns and improving accessibility and visitor circulation around the site.