A waterfront re-design in Cyprus

Foster + Partners have released plans for a redevelopment of Larnaca, a waterfront resort town in Cyprus. 

Created for Petrolina Group, a Cypriot petroleum company, the design will replace two kilometres of oil refineries previously located on the waterfront to the north of the city’s centre.  

Foster + Partners’ plans for a redevelopment of Larnaca in Cyprus. 

Foster + Partners’ aim was to, “design a masterplan that will transform Larnaca’s seafront into a thriving and sustainable community for the city’s residents, future generations and new visitors.”

The plan doubles the length of waterfront accessible to public, and enhances the land’s ecological value. Shaded, tree-lined streets and landscaped plazas, as well as a beach and boardwalk will be added.

Larnaca-Dhekelia Road, the existing motorway, will be transformed into a pedestrian-friendly and verdant street with public amenities, and four existing canals that run from the seafront will be rewilded to create habitats for wildlife and bring greenery towards the coastline.

The design will replace two kilometres of oil refineries.

Some elements of the previous oil refinery will be retained to acknowledge the area’s industrial heritage.

New commercial, residential and hotel developments will be located between the enhanced ecological zones that connect inland areas to the coastline, and will all be low-rise, human-scale and a natural extension of the human grain. 

“The new development is carefully stitched into the existing urban fabric and acts as a catalyst for expansion towards the north of the city,” say Foster + Partners. 

The plan doubles the length of waterfront accessible to public.

The developments will attract people and businesses to the city, as well as activating the coastline and enhancing the blue economy.

Ben Scott, Senior Partner at Foster + Partners, says the masterplan, “retains and enhances the city’s character while creating an exciting new vision for its future. Our approach has been developed in close consultation with the city authorities, building on the municipality’s key initiatives which promote sustainable and holistic urban growth.”