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Nicosia Municipal Garden Project To Preserve Historic Features And Add New Facilities

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

August 25, 2026

Historic Features To Be Preserved

The redevelopment plans call for preserving mature planting, including palms and cacti, and protecting existing root systems. Six ponds with fountains, water lilies and geese will be restored, along with bird cages for pheasants and geese, including the historic circular metal cage and specialised nesting structures.

Existing stone structures and steps will remain, while materials such as Karystos stone will be replaced with authentic equivalents. The current bicycle path and four busts, including those of Kostis Palamas, Mahatma Gandhi, Vladimir Kafkaridis and Yuri Gagarin, will also be preserved.

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Perimeter fencing will be completed to allow the garden to operate under controlled opening hours.

Existing Buildings To Be Converted

The preserved Nursery Building will be restored as a venue for events, exhibitions and community activities. The former gardeners’ building, known as the Refreshment Room, will become a 73-square-metre snack bar with outdoor seating and views toward the children’s playground.

Sanitary facilities will be redesigned to provide modern amenities and full accessibility for people with disabilities.

New Facilities And Infrastructure

The existing playground will be fully upgraded, with new equipment and a fenced area for children aged 2 to 12. Plans include natural materials, inclusive equipment for children with disabilities and seating for parents.

New sanitary facilities, storage and staff offices will be added, alongside smart lighting and network infrastructure. A designated location will also be reserved for a future artwork honouring Polish composer and pianist Frédéric Chopin.

Timeline And Competition Prizes

Design proposals must be submitted by Nov. 10, 2026, with results and awards scheduled for Dec. 1. The design and permitting phase is expected to take another nine to 12 months, with construction scheduled for completion by the end of 2028.

A seven-member panel chaired by civil engineer Koula Ioannou will evaluate the proposals. The panel includes architects and urban planners from the municipality, ETEK and the Cyprus Architects Association.

The first prize is €20,000 and includes the commission for the final design and project supervision. The second and third prizes are €15,000 and €12,000, respectively, while up to three honourable mentions will receive €3,000 each.

Municipal Garden To Connect With Wider City Projects

The Municipality of Nicosia is developing the garden alongside the reconstruction of the Municipal Theatre, the new Archaeological Museum, the pedestrian and cycling route around the city walls and the planned upgrade of Pedieos Linear Park.

The project will combine restoration of historic features with new facilities, including an upgraded playground, accessible amenities and spaces for cultural and community activities.

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Europe’s Busiest Ports Show The Scale Of Maritime Trade

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 7, 2026

Maritime transport carried roughly 13 billion tonnes of goods worldwide in 2024, highlighting its central role in global trade and supply chains. EU ports handled about 3.4 billion tonnes, or 26% of the global total, while nearly 90% of the bloc’s external freight trade is carried by sea.

Rotterdam And Antwerp-Bruges Lead The EU

Rotterdam was the EU’s busiest port in 2024, handling 397.3 million tonnes of goods. Antwerp-Bruges ranked second with 243.7 million tonnes, putting the two northern European hubs well ahead of the rest.

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Hamburg ranked third at 97 million tonnes, followed by Spain’s Algeciras at 81.5 million tonnes and Amsterdam at 78.8 million tonnes. France’s HAROPA port complex, covering Le Havre and Rouen, handled 76.6 million tonnes, while Gdansk recorded 71 million tonnes.

Marseille and Valencia followed with 66 million and 64.5 million tonnes, respectively. Romania’s Constanta completed the top 10 at 57.6 million tonnes, reflecting the Black Sea’s role in Europe’s wider trade network.

Europe’s Second Tier Of Major Ports

Several ports handled between 40 million and 56 million tonnes in 2024. Barcelona recorded 55.5 million tonnes, followed by Trieste at 53.5 million, Genoa at 47.4 million and Sines at 44.1 million.

Piraeus handled 43.7 million tonnes, while Germany’s Bremerhaven recorded 42.5 million. Sweden’s Göteborg handled 38.5 million tonnes and Dunkerque in France 36.8 million.

Netherlands Leads By National Port Volume

Looking at total cargo across each country’s ports, the Netherlands ranked first with 538.1 million tonnes in 2024. Italy followed with 488.6 million tonnes and Spain with 486 million tonnes, putting all three well ahead of the rest of the EU.

Belgium ranked fourth at 274.9 million tonnes, followed by Germany at 273.9 million and France at 269.8 million. Greece, Sweden and Poland each handled more than 100 million tonnes, showing the breadth of Europe’s maritime network.

Turkey Expands The Regional Picture

Including EU candidate countries and EFTA members puts Turkey in second place with 524.7 million tonnes, behind the Netherlands. Norway ranked eighth with 212.1 million tonnes and handled 212.1 million tonnes.

The European Commission has described maritime transport as a long-standing driver of European economic development. Its role now extends beyond moving cargo, with ports increasingly tied to supply chains, energy security and industrial policy.

In March 2026, the Commission adopted two strategies focused on competitiveness, sustainability, security and resilience across the EU’s waterborne sector, including ports, shipping and shipbuilding.