Khans in the Cypriot built environment

Abstract In contemporary urban environments, historic buildings serve as a living expression of cultural heritage over time and form an integral part of a place’s identity. This article focuses on a specific heritage building, namely, khans (inns), which reflect the socioeconomic and commercial conditions of a given place and period. This study examines the diachronic development of khans and their integration into the urban fabric of historic centres while identifying both their intangible and tangible values. This research considers the khans within the walled city of Nicosia in the capital of Cyprus and examines their typological, morphological and structural characteristics. It aims to identify common patterns of architectural design and spatial hierarchies and relate these to social and economic activities across different historical periods. This study is based on bibliographical documentation (including old plans and photographs), fieldwork and the compilation of datasheets for a selected number of khans. This process reveals their key typological characteristics, such as the presence of central courtyards and the strategic locations of khans across the island, which were often along main trade routes, and they served as hubs for commercial exchange and cultural interaction. This work highlights the significance of these buildings and their vital socioeconomic and commercial role in a city. It also underscores the importance of preserving their symbolic and intangible values while adapting their reuse to changing socioeconomic conditions that have led to shifts in the function of the buildings.