Brief Description

The House of the Citizen was inaugurated in the centre of Nicosia in 2019. 

Responding to the need to establish a permanent channel of dialogue and exchange with citizens, the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus proceeded to the restoration of a landmark colonial building, in order to facilitate - through a physical location - interactive communication between the Parliament and civil society. The House of the Citizen has also been designed to act as a hub for the innovative institution of the “Parallel Parliament” initiated by the House of Representatives in 2018, aiming at engaging citizens, through a dynamic and inclusive democratic process, to the wider sphere of public affairs. 

Awareness raised on common issues and key challenges will provide significant value added to both decision-makers and civil society. By providing the necessary infrastructure, the project seeks to highlight and encourage civil engagement at the grassroots level and its transfer on a systemic level to all levels of governance. Key areas of focus include, inter alia, the promotion of policies that safeguard tangible and intangible heritage and the design and promotion of horizontal policies for sustainability, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda.

History of the building

The “House of the Citizen” is a historical building in close proximity to the House of Representatives and the Cyprus Archaeological Museum. The building, according to title deeds issued by the British colonial administration of the island, was initially registered in 1926 and is a typical example of the colonial architecture of the time, incorporating local elements and materials in its design. It is a building strongly connected to major events that have shaped the modern history of Cyprus: it was the residence of the first Attorney General of the independent Republic of Cyprus, Criton G. Tornaritis serving from 1960 to 1984 and as such, functioned as a meeting place for discussions on the Constitution and the drafting of legislation for the newly established Republic. In 1969 the building was used as seat for the work of subcommittees examining constitutional and local government issues. These subcommittees were convened in the context of intercommunal talks held between the two communities of Cyprus under the auspices of the United Nations, between 1968 and 1970. 

Following the 1974 invasion and subsequent occupation by Turkey of the northern part of the island, the building was used for the housing of families of refugees, as about 220 000 persons were internally displaced and in need of immediate shelter. In 1986 it was declared a “preserved (listed) building” by the competent government authorities. However, in the decades that followed, it was gradually abandoned and left in destitute. In 2018, the House of Representatives took the initiative to restore the building thereby providing a physical and innovative space to facilitate citizen’s direct interaction with the House of Representatives through the innovative institution of the “Parallel Parliament”.

Following its restoration, the building is now equipped to host exhibitions, meetings, as well as press conferences and a variety of other events. Furthermore, it is electronically connected to the House providing direct access to information, ranging from the ongoing legislative work of the Parliament to its history and its digitized library. 

The newly restored building enjoys a dominant position in the centre of Nicosia, just outside the walled part of the old city, only a few metres away from the buffer zone that splits the capital of Cyprus in two. Its restoration and use make it an easily accessible new point of reference for citizens, providing added value to an area with pre-existing cultural and administrative sites, including the Cyprus Archaeological Museum and the Nicosia Municipal Theatre.