Cyprus - UN Buffer Zone

Friday 23 August – Tuesday 3 September 2013

The United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus, is a demilitarised zone patrolled by the UN Peacekeeping Force that spans the full length of the island from west to east and covers an area of around 350km². Although accounting for only around 3% of the island's total area the UN Zone has turned into a separate geopolitical entity of its own that will potentially be playing a vital political and economical role in a future reunification of the island’s north and south parts. 

The Visiting School will draw from the results of the “No Man’s Land Project” workshop (held in 2010) on the unique urban condition of the abandoned city of Famagusta and will be based on the hypothetical event of the return of the confiscated land and villages inside the Buffer Zone back to their former proprietors, following a 38-year period of abandonment.

The main agenda will be to explore how digital tools can address the conflicting nature of the Zone on an urban scale and explore non-linear scenarios of enabling its targeted rehabilitation. Participants will be creating parametric systems that use as input efficiently quantified data such as land parcelling, transportation routes or built growth, along with non-quantifiable elements such as collective memory or regional or ethnic tension. 

Applications

The deadline for applications is 9 August 2013.

 A CV or a portfolio is not required. The standard fee (£595) application can be done by the  online application.

To avail for scholarship/joint application fee please write to visitingschool@aaschool.ac.uk 

All participants travelling from abroad are responsible for securing any visa required for entry to Cyprus by contacting their local consulate. Cyprus is an EU member but not part of the Schengen area therefore Schengen Visa will not grant you entry. Beware that flights to (or entry from) the North will not guarantee you entry to the South where the workshop will be held.

After payment of fees, the AA School can provide a letter confirming participation in the workshop.

Fees

• Standard Fee: £595 which includes a £60 Visiting Membership. If you are already a member, the total fee will be reduced automatically by £60 by the online payment system.
   
•  Scholarship Fee: £195 is required for students that have been awarded a scholarship.
    
•  A fee of £200 will be paid back to local students that can host overseas students for the duration of the Visiting School (this is subject to the number of overseas students seeking accommodation).

Fees do not include flights. Although University of Nicosia will provide access to the Computer Lab, students are advised to bring their own laptops and digital equipment. Please ensure this equipment is covered by your own insurance as the AA takes no responsibility for items lost or stolen at the workshop.

Elgibility 

The workshop is open to current architecture and design students, phd candidates and young professionals worldwide.