Spatial Drawings as Archives of Intra-Action

Abstract

Dissonant heritage refers to sites marked by contested histories, conflicting narratives, and unresolved political tensions.Nicosia, Europe’s last divided capital, offers a compelling case of dissonant heritage. Research on Cyprus has largely focused on macro-histories and political narratives. While the introduction of micro-histories has challenged dominant accounts, architectural methodologies capable of engaging with evolving spatial realities remain underdeveloped.However, contexts like Cyprus require a methodology that moves beyond static representation, capable of responding to ongoing transformations. This doctoral project repositions drawing as a critical practice that cuts into, reveals, and confronts spatial dissonances as they are encountered on site. Architectural artefacts are mobilised to expose hidden continuities, overlooked interdependencies, and everyday life that remains invisible within dominant narratives. The project introduces atlas-making as its central methodological contribution. While drawing operates as an act of dissection, the atlas enables unfolding by recomposing these cuts into relation. In doing so, it allows contested narratives to coexist, confront one another, and remain open to debate.

Keywords: dissonant heritage, spatial narration, drawing, atlas-making, cyprus