An Endemic Perspective of Modernism Narrated by the House in a Mediterranean Island’s Capital

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Cyprus had a peculiar trajectory toward modernity due to its civil war (1960-1974) with a society that united in the hope of a better future. This journey was spearheaded by visionary architects and socio-political figures of the bourgeoisie, who came to prominence through increased material affordances and education levels. These main actors of modernity had the notion of dedication and a sense of duty to reach better living standards for their island and its’ people. In order to capture the essence of this modernity, the study examines a house, the narrator of life, designed by architect Ahmet Vural Behaeddin for Osman Örek’s family, a prominent political figure. The analysis of the house’s spatial configuration with period photographs, site visits, and architectural drawings is supported by oral history. As evidenced by the findings, the architects persevered in their dedication to modern architecture despite the hardship of civil war and scarcity. This exceptional endemic perspective blended modern architectural features with local realities, harmonizing everyday living and modernity’s social living with the era’s most remarkable minds, thus transcending the private space of the modern house into a space of innovation and advancement. Everyday living described a sense of solidarity and aspiration for progress despite the limitations of the civil war, expanding our knowledge of modernity, in which houses were vital as architectural expressions.