Conserving the Historical Identity of North Nicosia Walled City: Exploring Design Approaches and Implications from 1983 to 2003

Nicosia Walled City, on the northern side of Cyprus, encapsulates historical imprints from various cultures and civilizations within its layered structure, despite being a divided city since 1974. Based this beautiful Medieval sequence, study investigates implications architectural design approaches aimed at incorporating contemporary architecture into heterogeneous historic to conserve identity. While threats facing diverse built heritage composition are various, changes brought about by outcomes development actions can be challenging. This is especially so when designers obligated adhere conservation principles that clash with city’s character resort strategies prohibit addition new layers. employed mix qualitative quantitative research methods examined three case studies based buildings were erected during Turkish Republic Northern Cyprus period, spanning 1983 crossing began in 2003. study’s conclusions revealed schemes negatively impacted identity layers because followed selective entirely concentrated nostalgia rather than typological values. Rather creating layers, preferences energized problem, designers’ attitudes towards place’s maintained same context uniformity patterns. Efforts add sequences reflecting present time perceptions thwarted. These reductions subsequent transformations, current social–cultural necessities should stimulate individual determination practical policy instruments. The tools proposed here will accommodate inclusive ideas encourage fresh dialogues past, thus keeping significant for future.