Pissouri “Rooted in the Landscape”

Hyland Edgar Driver”

Existing Flora and FaunaComprehensive vegetation, fauna and site surveys will be undertaken in advance of further design development but on the basis of desktop study and photographic analysis the following may be summarised.

The site, although cultivated in part, is covered by Mediterranean garrigue vegetation, sometimes known as Phrygana in Greece.

This is an open community of mainly evergreen shrubs. Often aromatic and colourful in fl ower, smaller herbs, bulbs and wildfl owers grow beneath the shrubs and between the rocks and patches of bare ground to provide early spring and late autumn highlights of colour. Typical shrub species include Myrtles, Brooms and Cistus such as Calycotome spp., Cistus spp., Genista sphacelata, Myrtus communis, Pistacia spp. and Sarcopterium spinosum with fl owering herbs and bulbs such as Cyclamen, Thyme, and Wild Orchids.

In addition to the shrub species however there is clearly an existing population of tree species including Olive (Olea europea), Juniperus phoenicea and one would suppose species such as Carob(Ceratonia siliqua) and Pistacia lentiscus to exist.

The bird life of Cyprus is relatively diverse due to its location on the north south Africa-Europe migration routes.

The site is likely to support a wide range of small warblers, pipits and larks as well as more charismatic Mediterranean species such as Hoopees, Bee-eaters, with birds of prey such as buzzards, eagles and falcons fl ying above.

Other attractive wildlife will include some of Cyprus’s fi fty odd butterfl y species living on the plants and fl owers of the garrigue.

Use these (originals) without the annotations and with an inset location plan.

Typology 1 appropriately named to refl ect exisiting and suggest proposed character

Typology2 appropriately named to refl ect exisiting and suggest proposed character

Typology 3 appropriately named to refl ect exisiting and suggest proposed character

Proposed Landscape StrategyCyprus like many parts of the world suffers from habitat loss due to human degradation particularly in phrygana areas.

The development proposes therefore to work with the natural landscape and to give “something back” through enhancement using the existing vegetation and landscape types as the basis for future design and management.

In place of the ornamental boulevard will be the hillside road meandering through fl owering shrubs and herbaceous plants scattered with native trees.

In place of the continuous hedge will be the interconnecting drifts of groundcover and low shrubs.

That said the design will recognise the needs of the human being both in the creation of private and public space but in so doing will use native or naturalised vegetation in formal associations such as Olive and Carob Groves or perhaps fi eld terraces of Orange, Lemon or Almond under planted with native shrubs and fl ora.

These associations will extend to structural forms in urban courtyards and plazas where, in combination with locally derived paving, materials the design will create a contemporary interpretation of local culture and tradition, of local ecology and vernacular.

All of this will combine to one landscape within which there will be different characters, a sense of place with a range of experience at home in the Cyprus landscape.

The following images have been chosen to illustrate the design intent in advance of detailed schedules noting they should begin with the above mentioned surveys.

Diagram needs to be something like this as an overlay on Starc Architects’ material. Needs to show three typologies on a base of Natural Landscape with the latter binding them together.

Begin with the landscape itself and the buildings and people in it, draw inspiration from the rocks that tell the history of time, from the waters and plants that give life and from the people who live in and shape the landscape.

River Valley Village Centre

Hillside Village

Local Skills, Local TechniquesThe hard elements of the landscape will be derived from the local geology and vernacular characterised by limestones and marbles with occasional granite and ceramic/terra-cottas complemented by iron timber.

Whilst a traditional palette is proposed it is anticipated that this will be expressed in a contemporary manner using clean and simple lines.

The following images have been chosen to illustrate the design intent in advance of detailed proposals.

.

Neither pastiche nor pure but a contemporary interpretation of tradition, stylish and sensual, discerning without being elitist.

The principles of design of space and experience remain constant, what is required is an understanding of climate and culture and the willingness to be open and responsive, to listen and to learn.

Principle Route

Site Entrance

Footpath

Existing Watercourse

Private Residencies

Principle Hotel Buildings

Site Entrance

“Hillside Town”

Hillside Hotel Villas

Whatever???

“Village Square/Plaza”

Infrastructure, Uses and Landscape Character

Diagrams need to be something like this as overlays on Starc Architects’ material.

A Landscape led Design Strategy

Private Residencies

Spa

Diagram needs to be something like this as an overlay on Starc Architects material.

I suggest three key landscape types united by the natural landscape running through.

See text opposite.

Design should not be the application of an international model but a unique and complex response to the landscape. Design should give back to the landscape, to its ecology and to its people, their culture and their livelihood.

River Valley Village Centre

Hillside Village

Landscape ConceptThe concept begins with he natural landscape that runs through and underpins the whole concept.

On this, as if evolved over time, there are three main landscape character types that may be summarised as River Valley, Village Centre and Hillside Village though within and across these typologies will be the detail that defi nes local character.

The River Valley works with the more even, greener land of agriculture and becomes a linear park continuing to perform its seasonal role in fl ood alleviation whilst also providing a range of amenity and sporting opportunities overlooked by a variety of villas with their own character to the north west falling to the outward looking edge of the Village Centre to the south east.

The Village Centre at the heart of the site provides the focus of activity with not only the sport facilities but also village shops and cafes clustered around a contemporary version of the traditional village square. Villas and apartments that face the square will derive their character from the square with harder more urban pathways and alleys softened by occasional specimen trees contrasted by small groups, luxuriant climbers cascading over walls and even bespoke planters.

As one moves up the hillside away from the Village Centre, the paths become less urban and greener and the landscape becomes more natural with ornamentality retreating to gardens as the natural landscape with occasional grids of Olives or plateaux reminiscent of former fi eld terraces create moments of interest, intervening focal and amenity areas.

Imagine the route as if one enters over the top of the hills through the natural landscape. One fi rst encounters the higher outlying villas of the Hillside Village in their green setting but as one moves down the hill the scene becomes more urban till one reaches the Village Centre with its street life and beyond that the green River Valley fl owing ultimately to the sea.

Landscape ConceptImagine the route (illustrated from left to right) as if one enters over the top of the hills through the natural landscape. One fi rst encounters the higher outlying villas of the Hillside Village in their green setting but as one moves down the hill the scene becomes more urban till one reaches the Village Centre with its street life and beyond that the green River Valley fl owing ultimately to the sea.

A concept that is best told in pictures perhaps...

Hillside Village

Hillside Village

Hillside Village to Village Centre

Village Centre

Village Centre

River Valley

River Valley

One Landscape

One Landscape...

...Many Characters

Section - Hillside Village to Village Centre.

Section from other project indicative of intent only

Section - Village Centre to River Valleyshowing cafes, plaza and sport beyond

Section from other project indicative of intent only

Section - River Valley Villas to River Valleyshowing natural parkland with picnic, play and maybe

jogging?

Section from other project indicative of intent only

Hyland Edgar DriverHyland Edgar Driver (HED) has a wide ranging portfolio of prestigious and acclaimed work in the UK and overseas with a reputation for design and delivery in landscape and urban design.

In the UK HED was landscape architect for the London Olympic Stadium team responsible for the stadium plazas and approaches seen worldwide in 2012 and was responsible for Heathrow Airport Terminal 5, the country’s largest construction project, as part of its wider work for BAA.

HED has a portfolio of overseas work including landscape masterplanning, leisure, commercial and retail developments.

Overseas experience includes developments in Albania, Austria, Belarus, Cape Verde, Congo, Croatia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Nigeria, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Spain, Oman, Turkey, UAE and Ukraine.

HED believes in Local Living as a design philosophy for residential developments, starting with local landscapes and their people, understanding their histories and stories and their arts and their crafts, and using those as the basis for design concepts.

Concepts rooted in localities offer context and engagement and provide the user with fond memories, stories of a place and an experience that transcends simple classifi cation of quality.

Concepts rooted in localities also tend to use tried, almost intuitive, sustainable designs where the sense of place and the technology of tradition are one and the same.

Projects illustrated on this page and the next are Vacation Club La Sella Denia Spain; Estrela Resort Cape Verde; Spencer Dock Dublin Ireland; The Village Centre Markojica Golf Resort Croatia; Mykonos Resort Greece; London 2012 Olympic Stadium.

Simon Edgar FLI, FRSASimon is a founding director of HED with experience in Europe, The Mediterranean and The Middle East on a wide range of projects.

He has been involved with residential, hospitality and leisure, commercial, urban and waterfront landscapes for many years, including work throughout the UK and Overseas working from landscape masterplan through to the delivery of award-winning schemes for major developers and clients.

Simon acted as Peer Reviewer for HED’s 2012 London Olympic Team.

Simon is also responsible for HED’s relationships with the likes of British Land, BAA, Microsoft and O2 as well as most of HED’s overseas work particularly in the CIS and India where he is working in Mumbai and Bangalore.

He also leads HED’s relationships with international hotel operators including their vacation club and associated villa options with projects in Europe, Africa and the Caribbean.

Simon is currently working in the UK, Europe, Russia, and the CIS, Africa and the Caribbean and has worked around the Mediterranean for over 25 years.

www.heduk.com

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