Designing a Difference -Social Sustainability in Cyprus

Petros Lapithis, Anna Papadopoulou, Melissa Hekkers

Research output: Book/ReportBook

Abstract

An academic e-book compiled of student projects from the Architecture Department of University of Nicosia on social sustainability in Cyprus is now available on-line.

Edited by academics Petros Lapithis and Anna Papadopoulou and journalist Melissa Hekkers, the book brings to the local case studies to the forefront in an attempt to give a concrete understanding on social sustainability and architectural practices.

Cultural heritage is civilizations’ most valued asset. Culture and civilization are concepts that are in essence intertwined that are expressed spatially as well as socially.

In architecture and design, all too often, focus is set on spatiality, with sustainability located within the tangible and intangible norms of the natural and the built environment. The notion of social sustainability enters architectural discourse to provide a component of sustainability that speaks directly to the contribution of community and society to civilization and to cultural heritage.

Sustainability is about survival. But if to sustain is to survive, then survival requires that class, racial and gender differences, as well as spatial and perceptual distances, are overcome by good will and good design.

Social sustainability extends the essence of sustainable design and combines design of the physical realm with the design of the social world in order to create successful places that promote well-being by understanding what people need from the places where they live and work. This book is a compilation of student design projects that aim to address sustainability beyond its conventional environmental component and push the boundaries of what it means for communities to thrive as part of the great infinity of civilization.

The editors of this book would like to extend their appreciation by acknowledging the contribution of all students of the Architecture and Interior Design programmes of the Department of Architecture, University of Nicosia who have participated in the Sustainable Design Unit, the Design for Diversity Unit and the Building Blocks for Social Sustainability workshops from the first years of its inception.

The goal of this book is to transfer knowledge without any monetary benefit. The book is available for free.
Original languageEnglish
Place of Publicationcyprus
PublisherPantheon Cultural Association press
Number of pages248
ISBN (Print)978-9963-9789-5-3
Publication statusPublished - 24 Oct 2016

Keywords

  • architecture
  • sustainability
  • design
  • social

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