- Nicosia Old General Hospital
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Nicosia Old General Hospital Geography Location downtown, Nicosia, Cyprus Organisation Care system Social Security Hospital type General Affiliated university None Services Emergency department Yes History Founded 1936 Closed 2006 Links Website None Lists Hospitals in Cyprus Nicosia Old General Hospital was the main hospital of Nicosia, Cyprus from 1936 to 2006. In 2006, its patients were transferred to the Nicosia New General Hospital, and it was demolished in 2010 amidst some controversy over whether it should have been preserved.
The decision for erecting a purpose built general hospital in Nicosia was taken during the British colonial administration of Cyprus in 1936.[1] It was inaugurated on the 14th of April 1939 by the then British governor Richard Palmer. This coincided with the breakout of World War II and many British and Cypriot soldiers were transported there, away from the front line, for recovery. Cyprus escaped the fighting, apart from the occasional German bombing raid.
The building, designed by Polyvios Michaelides was one of the first structures in Cyprus to import the Bauhaus style of architecture from Germany and featured in the French journal L’Architecture d’aujourd’hui. [2]
The hospital served as a tertiary referral centre for most disciplines. Over time and with scientific and medical advances, it became apparent that the hospital premises were not fit for purpose. A Nicosia New General Hospital was constructed in the suburb of Latsia and was delivered in 2006. The last remaining patients were transferred over and the old hospital closed its emergency department on the 8th of October 2006, after 67 years of operation having treated millions of patients. It continues to run outpatients clinics and a psychiatric ward.
The fate of the old building has recently been surrounded by controversy. It lies in the centre of Nicosia on prime real estate and surrounded by dense eucalyptus woodland. The Cyprus Green Party has been campaigning for the building’s preservation as it is considered as one of the few remaining examples of colonial architecture. [3] Plans to demolish it and to erect a new Cyprus Museum have been criticized by the Cyprus Architects Association, that has also championed its preservation.[4] The building was finally demolished and the contractor Philippos Kameris confirmed on the 15/06/2010 that the work was completed.[citation needed]
References
- ^ "Cyprus hospital move prompts data protection probe". Reuters. 20 March 2007. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L20729202.htm. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
- ^ Evripidou, Stefanos (Sunday, March 29, 2009). "Why we should save Nicosia’s least-loved building". Cyprus Mail. http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=44862&archive=1. Retrieved 2009-04-09.[dead link]
- ^ Leonidou, John (October 25, 2006). "Greens campaign to save old hospital building". Cyprus Mail. http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=28628&archive=1. Retrieved 2007-03-20.[dead link]
- ^ Hassapi, Anna (Wednesday, January 14, 2009). "Old hospital to be demolished in March to make way for museum". Cyprus Mail. http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=43504&archive=1. Retrieved 2009-04-09.[dead link]
Categories:- Asian building and structure stubs
- Cyprus stubs
- Buildings and structures in Cyprus
- European hospital stubs
- Nicosia
- Hospitals in Cyprus
- Hospitals established in 1936
- 2006 disestablishments
- Buildings and structures completed in 1939
- Demolished buildings and structures
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