Women’s Refuge Centre

SPAVO’s ambition is to build the first purpose built women’s shelter in Cyprus. This new privately owned shelter in the city of Nicosia will offer a larger accommodation and improved standard of living for the women and their children that seek refuge from situations of family violence. Currently the charity houses around 80 women per year and the shelter will help to respond to the growing demands of the existing service. The building will offer services of psychological support, counselling and accommodation while it will also house the offices of the charity. The new building sits on a corner site; the building almost rejects the street and instead is enclosed around a central courtyard. The building sits over 4 levels including the basement with two separate entrances for the shelter and the offices. Openings to the north will frame views to the shelter’s courtyard and gardens. The idea is to connect the daily patterns of the guests with the consoling rhythm of the natural cycle of seasons. The internal character of the shared spaces and the bedrooms will serve the sheltering function of the building which corresponds to the needs of the women and their children for safety within a pleasant and peaceful environment.