The Cultural Evolution and National Identities Reflected in the Architecture of Cyprus

Abstract

This paper1 intends to present and discuss the architectural movements in Cyprus during the westernisation period which started during the last phase of the Ottoman Rule and continued during the British Colonial Rule started in 1878 and lasted in 1960. During this period an eclectic style of architecture which is a combination of the traditional styles and the western elements developed in the island. This is in fact an expression of the attitudes of the local people as well as the rulers to achieve their idealistic aims. Thus all elements used in the contemporary architecture reveal the national identity as well as the yearning for the modernity, a trend which already was in full progress in the capitals of the mainland, İstanbul for the Turkish citizens and Athens for the Greeks. Therefore, the focus in this paper will be on the architecture within the defined periods that currently must be considered as part of the architectural heritage since they reflect the architectural history as well as the socio-economic and political situations of their times. Examples from the concerned periods are selected and analysed from the North as well as the South part of the island. The analysis is accompanied with self descriptions and wherever possible documentation about their past history is attempted. The concept of nationalism and westernisation is also attempted to be elucidated theoretically to clarify the case in Cyprus. Cyprus as an island of a rich legacy of various civilisations bears different characteristics that reflect the national identities as well as religious beliefs of its citizens. However, although there are many Latin religious monuments with original character, there are only a small number of civil buildings from the Medieval Latin and Ottoman periods that we have inherited with little alterations all of which were constructed for the need of social welfare in traditional, modest styles. Cyprus having inhabitants consisting of Moslem and non-Moslem citizens, mainly the Turks and the Greeks, kept on a traditional, modest style for the domestic as well as the religious buildings. Even though there were large complex of buildings constructed mainly for the public use such as inns, aqueducts, medreses and tekkes by the Turkish people, it is known that mainly the remains of the Latin buildings were primarily used with simple alterations and restorations according to the need of the Islamic religion. Only few Ottoman buildings show the classical Ottoman The Development of an Eclectic Style in Architecture due to the Cultural Evolution and Reflection of National Identity during the Westernisation of the Ottoman