TECHNO CENTER

Project idea

The idea behind the Techno Center emerged from a desire to enhance the city of Kyrenia beyond its current reliance on tourism and real estate—the primary drivers of its economy. Through research, I identified a gap in the city’s development: the absence of a modern, technology-focused platform that could educate, inspire, and attract people of all ages. This led to the proposal of a multifunctional digital and innovation hub—one that could position Kyrenia on the global map as a future-oriented city. Inspired by Teknofest, an annual technology and aerospace festival, the project envisions a permanent landmark for learning, creativity, and digital experiences, offering a new model of urban growth rooted in innovation.

Project description

This project proposes the development of a Techno Center—a Smart Leisure and Digital Innovation Hub—strategically located in Kyrenia (Girne), Cyprus. It aims to diversify the city’s economic and social offerings by introducing a public platform focused on technology, education, and entertainment. The project responds to the growing need for a modern space where innovation, learning, and creativity intersect. It reimagines the urban landscape by integrating cutting-edge digital experiences with accessible public infrastructure, encouraging participation from all age groups and backgrounds.

Scope of the Project Solution

This project consists of the following parts:

1. Innovation & Research Hub:
A center dedicated to digital learning, training, research, and prototyping. This space will support young professionals, students, and tech startups.

2. Business & Collaboration Center:
Equipped with co-working areas, meeting rooms, and incubation spaces to foster entrepreneurship, cross-industry collaboration, and startup growth.

3. Tech Playground & Smart Leisure Zone:
An indoor recreational facility that integrates gamified learning, robotics playgrounds, and hands-on STEAM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Arts, Math) activities.

4. Digital Experience & Gaming Arena:
A highly immersive space with VR/AR labs, digital escape rooms, esports stages, and interactive art installations for public engagement and entertainment.

5. Outdoor and Public Spaces:
A connected plaza and elevated platform serve as both a circulation system and social hub, ensuring fluid movement between buildings and enhancing urban interaction.

This Techno Center is designed as a modular, expandable project rooted in connectivity, adaptability, and sustainability, with the long-term vision of making Kyrenia a reference point for digital innovation in the Mediterranean region.

Technical information

Technical Specification of the Project

The construction of the Techno Center employs a modular steel frame structure based on a grid system, allowing flexibility for future expansion and reconfiguration. The primary structural system consists of prefabricated steel columns and beams, enabling the pavilion-like cubic volumes to be inserted or extended with minimal disruption.

The envelope incorporates a combination of fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) panels for walkable roof areas and double-skin facades with high-performance glazing to optimize thermal insulation and daylighting. Interactive LED mesh is integrated into selected façade panels, enabling digital projections and media displays visible from the exterior.

Flooring systems vary according to program, with raised access floors in technical and training labs, acoustic-treated surfaces in auditoriums, and shock-absorbing materials in gaming and leisure zones.

All buildings are designed with sustainable strategies, including passive ventilation shafts, rainwater harvesting, green roofing where applicable, and solar shading elements to reduce heat gain. The entire complex is fully accessible, with elevators and ramps strategically placed to connect all public levels and platforms.

The structural and technical design supports the center’s dynamic programmatic needs while ensuring long-term adaptability and environmental performance.