Designing switches of sovereignty 

Marina Antoniou

Tutors: S.Strati

The thesis proposal supports the village inhabitants of Ormideia, Xylotymbou and Ormidia in Cyprus to spatially undermine the power structure in the United Kingdom Sovereign Base Area in Dhekelia (UK SBA) that encircles their communities and controls part of their territories. The UK SBA is an exception from the Republic of Cyprus’ jurisdiction. The proposal adds informal uses to the official infrastructures thanks to strategies and tactics connected to a new loop road trajectory. The thesis proposal argues that the camouflage tactic of the informal uses may help the inhabitants to claim their territories gradually. On a larger scale, the proposal introduces a network of renewable energy facilities to equip the public buildings and the closing down of fossil-run Electric Power of the Republic of Cyprus (also encircled by the UK SBA area).

Countering the dominating status quo of the UK Sovereign Base will take place thanks to the formulation of programs and protocols translated into the area along the road loop comprising existing fragments of streets linked together. Could renewable energy be a mechanism for countering geopolitical domination and empowering the political power of the local communities?