Larnaca commissions €245,000 design for an eco-centre at the salt lake

Larnaca Municipality has signed a contract for the design and author’s supervision of the construction of an Environmental Education Centre at Larnaca Salt Lake. The €245,000 contract, excluding VAT, was signed on 27 August by Larnaca Mayor Andreas Vyras and Andreas Zodiatis, representative of the architectural firm 38251 ARCHITECTS L.L.C.

The centre will be built in an area included in the European Natura 2000 network of protected sites. The project is funded through the cohesion policy programme «ΘΑλΕΙΑ 2021–2027», with co-financing from the European Union. The contract runs for 44 months, and construction is scheduled for completion in 2029.

The project is based on an architectural design that won first prize in a single-stage architectural competition. In addition to the buildings themselves, the project includes landscaping of the surrounding area, taking into account its Natura 2000 protected status.

A new trail will be laid from the centre, connecting it to the existing route around the salt lake. A birdwatching platform, rest areas with benches and viewpoints, and information boards will be installed nearby, while the natural landscape will be restored through the planting of endemic species.

“This is an important area for the city that for years has not received the attention it deserves because of its ecological value,” Larnaca Mayor Andreas Vyras said. Elena Stylianopoulou, Deputy Director of the Department of the Environment, thanked the municipality for supporting the project and congratulated the design team on winning the competition.

Once construction is complete, the centre will be handed over to the Department of the Environment, which will become its owner and take responsibility for its environmental education and awareness activities.