PORT CITIES 2025 Haifa/ Paphos: Visit of students and faculty from the Department of Architecture, NB School of Design, Haifa University, to Neapolis University Pafos

On Wednesday, March 26, the Department of Architecture, Land and Environmental Sciences at Neapolis University Pafos welcomed a group of students and faculty members from the Department of Architecture at the NB School of Design, Haifa University. The visit took place as part of an emerging international collaboration between the two institutions, focused on the thematic field of Port Cities.

This collaboration centres on the co-creation of thematic design studios, such as the one currently taking place in Paphos, where students from Haifa are studying the wider port area and the archaeological sites of Kato Paphos. The educational activities are supported by Neapolis faculty members Dr. Evanthia Dova, Assistant Professor of Architectural and Urban Design, and Dr. Ioannis Pissourios, Associate Professor of Urban Planning.

The PORT CITIES project was initiated in 2023 by the NB School of Design, Haifa, and aims to document, assess, and develop proposals for the future development of port cities on an international level. These cities are examined as hubs of trade and tourism, as transportation networks, and as sites of cultural exchange and intercultural dialogue.

The project raises key questions: How can the rich cultural heritage of port cities be protected from the pressures of economic and touristic development? What are the possibilities for their sustainable evolution within the context of globalisation, climate change, and social diversity?

Answers to these questions are being explored through design and research conducted by the participants and will be publicly presented within the framework of PORT CITIES 2025 Haifa/ Paphos, fostering dialogue and strengthening ties between the two institutions.