Aluminium Tower

The Aluminium Tower is situated at the southern entrance of the city of Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus. Over the years, it has gradually become a landmark of the city because of both its location and its form and structure.

The main synthetic principle governing the building is its organisation into three distinct parts: a double-height ground floor extending across the maximum allowable area of the site; eight floors of offices, each measuring 220 m2; and a strong perpendicular core, containing the vertical movement, staircase and two elevators. This core is attached to the main body of the building containing the office spaces. The ground floor is utilised mainly for retail purposes, with some periodically alternative uses such as a café.

In the original design, the plan for each floor of offices subdivided them into two equal-size offices. Over the years, however, different arrangements were effected in response to different tenants’ requirements, including the housing of a local radio station. The top floor was turned into a number of small luxury apartments. There is one basement level with a small number of parking spaces. The three-part volumetric organisation of the total structure is accentuated by the different materials used for each individual volume. The main and most prominent volume containing the offices is clearly characterised by alternating horizontal zones of bronze aluminium cladding and glass as well as curved corners, reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Johnson Wax Administration Building (1936-1943). The perpendicular service core is intense in its off-white plastered surface. The ground floor elevations are mainly glazed.

Currently, the tower is empty and is gradually degrading.

Researcher Achilleas Kentonis