Contemporary designs in historic context: Eleftheria square in Cyprus as a bridge between new and the old

Contemporary design within a historical context is a special topic of architectural conservation that needs considerations. New designs should be reversible and compatible with existing; however it needs to be legible and distinguishable as well. Creating the compatibility between new and the old is a challenging process. The originality of the heritage should be preserved while adding another layer and value to the heritage. The international preservation standards and charters provide guideline for contemporary designs in historical settings. The aim of the study is to examine the selected field study by following these principles. Eleftheria square in Cyprus that is designed by Zaha Hadid Architects is the main study area of the paper. Eleftheria square is a public space located in Nicosia, Southern Cyprus that design has recently completed. It includes design of a moat, which is located next to the historic city walls and designing a bridge that connect the historic part of the city with the new development area. Although the project brought a new life to the neglected part of the city, the design approaches of the project should be examined through conservation principles. Within the scope of the study, the completed project has been examined through preservation principles, which is suggested in selected standards and charters.