- The main factors that acted as a catalyst for the decision of a Group of Architects and in 1981 and eventually led to the establishment and operation of Cyprus Architects Association in 1981, were the following:
- The promotion and development of Architecture as a Science and Art in Cyprus
- The protection and entrenchment of the architectural profession
- The pursuit of distinction and separation of the Architectural profession from Civil Engineering profession, in order to protect the architectural profession and architect’s interests.
- Legislation improvement on technical issues
- Encouraging and promoting the role of the Architect in the scientific, intellectual, cultural, artistic and educational development of Cyprus
- Information and training of Architects on technical, cultural and other issues of general interest but also informing the public about the role of the Architect.
Public Intervention is an essential aspect of the action of Cyprus Architects Association. Its substantiated interventions have helped and largely help to determine State’s political decisions on technical issues. Cyprus Architects Association is present at all issues of concern to the technical world:
- Establishment of the institution of Architectural Competitions for all public buildings,
- Development control modernization, bureaucracy elimination,
- Local Plans review,
- Public Works assignments,
- Institutionalization of minimal services / fees offered,
- Building Energy efficiency Regulation,
- Mandatory supervision
- Dealing with the recession and the effects of the economic crisis / Unemployment reduction measures
- “Law on Roads and Buildings” modification
are only a sample of issues for which Cyprus Association of Architects has determined important decisions by its interventions and suggestions.
The multi-year efforts of Cyprus Architects Association, in order to create a single “Representative Body of Architects” that will house all the Architects of Cyprus, were accomplished in 2012. The upgrade of the now “single scientific and professional body” as the only partner of the society and the State in the issues concerning architecture and the world of architects, is an important achievement and perhaps the culmination of the 30-year history of Cyprus Architects Association.
The action of Cyprus Architects Association does not end at the geographical borders of the island since its goal is to promote the positions and its activity to an international level. Cyprus Architects Association is a member of Architects Council of Europe (ACE) and is actively involved in the work of: International Union of Architects (UIA), Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA), Union of Mediterranean of Architects (UMAR). Cyprus Architects Association undertakes every two years the organization of the Architecture Biennale held in Venice and has the responsibility of selecting and representing Cyprus in the European Architecture Competition Mies Van Der Rohe Award.
The course of Cyprus Architects Association so far, clearly outlines its future course around three main axes:
- Offer to society
- Promotion of architecture
- Upgrade of the Architect’s profession and services offered
