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In scholarly sources it is often used as an ‘umbrella’ term for multiple related types of commercial buildings similar to inns or hostels, whereas the actual instances of such buildings had a variety of names depending on the region and the local language.

 

   Also referred to as “khan” it derives from Middle Persian [hʾn' / xān] meaning “house” and is typically referred to as an urban caravanserai built within a town or a city.

 

   The commonly used Greek word “χάνι” [Hani] derives from the Ottoman period after 1571 when Cyprus was seized from the Venetians.

 

   The Greek term “Πανδοχείον” [Pandocheion] meaning “welcoming all”, thus meaning “inn”, which was a roadside trading place for pilgrims and travelers (caravaners) who would use it to recover from the day's journey.

   The gardens, galleries, stables, barns and rooms made it an ideal place for trade, rest and livestock storage while it served as an exchange point for commerce, goods, knowledge and information, amongst people converging from routes and paths across the entire island of Cyprus.

 

   Following the caravanserai era and throughout time, the Ermou 300 Project took a series of turns hosting various functions within its historical, traditional, but also modular and multimodal architectural rehabilitation, renovation and interior design layout.

 

   Carpenters and metalsmiths moved into the ruins left behind after the illegal Turkish Invasion of 1974 and exploited the premises until 2006, year in which the historical and listed building was bought by Fissentzides Architects Studio.

 

Architectural Studio + Showroom

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   Two years of research and design later and after another two years of rehabilitation and construction, Fissentzides Architects Studio created what was to become in 2010, one of the most talked about, emblematic, multifunctional and trend setting projects on the island, reaching overseas recognition as far as the New York Times Travel Issue in 2013.

 

   In 2010 Fissentzides Architects Studio and Concept Showroom attracts many local and overseas companies who also use the venue for exhibitions, presentations, workshops and publicity via television and magazine commercials within local and international press.

 

   In 2011 the Nicosia Municipality used the Ermou 300 venue as an exhibition platform to present its candidature to the European Union for Cultural Capital of Europe.

  In 2012 a traditional coffee shop was introduced in the exterior garden.

 

  In 2013 a shop in shop interior concept is created combining various young designer fashion labels.

  In 2015 the traditional coffee shop was upgraded to a traditional Cypriot restaurant with a modern cuisine twist which set the trend for a new type of ‘pimped’ Cypriot gastronomy throughout the island and gaining international recognition by reaching the Aegean A-List Magazine short list of the Best New Arrivals for restaurants in Europe and the Middle East.

  In 2019 the FABoutique Concept Store became the latest addition to the Ermou 300 Project and in collaboration with Fissentzides Architects Studio it has teamed up with various world renowned furniture, lighting, design and décor brands, specialising in interior and exterior design for residential, commercial, hotel, office and industrial projects.     

  History is indeed repeating itself as its wheel shall complete its full cycle with a final and possibly last (never say never) transformation, rehabilitation and renovation of the Ermou 300 Project by Fissentzides Architects Studio, possibly the most symbolic one of all, reflecting the voyage back in time to its initial use and functions.

  Stay tuned for more details and updates coming soon...

FABoutique

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    In 2019 the FABoutique Concept Store became the latest addition to the Ermou 300 Project and in collaboration with Fissentzides Architects Studio it has teamed up with various world renowned furniture, lighting, design and décor brands, specialising in interior and exterior design for residential, commercial, hotel, office and industrial projects.

 

     Further to its partnership in undertaking design projects with the architectural studio, FABoutique also functions as an independent retail shop, reselling the products of 20 different world renowned design brands, representing them as an official reseller in Cyprus.

 

      Click here to visit the official social media pages:

 

 

FAStudio

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     In 2010 and after 2 years of design and construction, Fissentzides Architects Studio moved to its new, rehabilitated, restored and renovated architectural studio premises in the Ermou 300 Project.

 

     Situated on the 1st floor just above the FABoutique Concept Store, with a Southern view of the old town of Nicosia and a Northern view of the vast traditional interior garden, the architectural studio is a mix and match concept of traditional and historical preserved architecture with a touch of modernity due to the apparent metal structure consolidation and plug and play electromechanical installations.

 

     Click here to visit the official social media pages:

 

     

 

 

Ta 300 Παραπούλια

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    In 2015 an open air restaurant was created in the vast interior garden, offering traditional Cypriot cuisine dishes with a twist, setting the trend for a new era of ‘pimped’ Cypriot gastronomy throughout the island.

 

     Shortly after its official opening the restaurant became talk of the town and within a few weeks it was the island’s favorite gastronomy destination, reaching international recognition by entering the Aegean A-List Magazine short list of the Best New Arrivals for restaurants in Europe and the Middle East in the summer of the same year.

 

 

Ερμού 300 Καφενείο

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     In 2012 an open air, traditional but unconventional coffee shop was created in the vast interior garden, where the historical and traditional scenery was mixed and matched to the European design trend, the outcome of which produced a shaker of pimped traditional cocktails and bites, deriving from local inspiration and ingredients, influenced by the rich French and Italian impact in the history of Cyprus.

 

     The coffee shop quickly became a hot spot for young, casual, authentic Cyprus lovers, local or foreign, who embraced and became part of what was soon to become the Ermou 300 Culture…

 

Ermou 300 Residence

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     Built in 2012, the residence is a combination of the restoration and rehabilitation of the historical existing building and a modern, steel structure extension.

 

     What used to be a small barn for the travelers’ animals was transformed to an open plan ground floor living area with an Eastern garden view.

 

     As an extension to this preserved historical building, a North facing modern steel structure was added along the Southern boundary of the plot forming an L-shaped entity, with the dining and kitchen areas embracing the garden around which the entire residence was conceived.

 

     Full height sliding opening windows along the Northern ground floor façade allow the interaction between the residence ground floor and the garden where as the floor above comprises of 3 en suite bedrooms, with stunning Northern perspective views of the no man’s land ‘buffer zone’ and the occupied part of Nicosia, the only divided capital in Europe, since illegal Turkish invasion in 1974.

 

     The basement has been transformed into a gym room with views on the archaeological findings excavated during the construction and the swimming pool water filters direct sunlight into the basement through submerged triple glazing glass surfaces.     

 

The Hanging Gardens of Ermou 300

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     The exterior garden is actually a vast interior garden to the entity of the project itself, linking all historical, rehabilitated buildings and modern extensions between themselves.

 

     In summer the traditional white sultanina grape vine covers the entire garden offering fresh shade and sweet edible grapes whereas in winter the falling foliage allows the sun to access and heat the entire garden.

 

     Traditional Cypriot citrus, olive, pine trees, bamboo, seasonal herbs and colorful flower plants make up most of the garden’s vegetation while a palm tree estimated to be of the Venetian period was the reason the residence swimming pool was conceived around it.

 

 

ΕVENTuality

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    Since 2010 and throughout its various functions, the Ermou 300 Project venue has hosted various cultural, artistic, social, commercial and philanthropic events.

 

     Its unique architecture, landscaping, lighting, services and facilities made every single event, unique and a moment to remember.   

 

     If you want to become part of the Ermou 300 Project history and join the EVENTuality club by hosting your own event, email us at ermou300project@ermou300.com and we shall get back to you according to availability in order to arrange a meeting and make your event a dream come true and definitely one to remember.

Location:           Cyprus - Nicosia (Historical Centre)

Plot Size:          1,040m²

Built Surface Area: 680m²

Date of Origin:     1800 (Estimated)

Construction Date:  2010 Rehabilitation (Mix Use)

Construction Cost:  €1.300.000

   Situated within the historical Venetian walls and bastions of the old town of Nicosia, the Ermou 300 Project, as indicated by its name, is situated on Ermou Street, one of the oldest and most commercial streets in the history of the capital of Cyprus.

 

   The listed building is estimated to have been built in the early 1800s as a “caravanserai”, derivative of [kārvānsarāy], a Persian compound word combining [kārvān] meaning "caravan" and [sarāy] meaning "palace", as building with enclosed courts whereby the "caravaners", a group of traders, pilgrims or other travelers engaged in long-distance travel would trade and rest.

RUINaissance

FAStudio
Καφενείο
Παραπούλια
FABoutique
Residence
Hanging Gardens
EVENTuality
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