Project Details
- Scheme & Version: International 2016 New Construction: Bespoke
- Stage: Interim
- Location: Limassol, Cyprus
- Score & Rating: 80.4% Excellent
- Certificate Number: BREEAM-0077-7722
Project Team
- Developer / Client: ICR Cyprus Resort Development
- Assessor/ Auditor: ELEMEC GBC
About the Development
The first integrated resort in Cyprus, City of Dreams Mediterranean is expected to be the largest integrated destination resort in Europe. A world leading development and landmark for Cyprus and the wider region, the resort is set to boost tourism in Cyprus attracting an additional 300000 tourists annually and contributing significantly to alleviating seasonality. During the construction period, the project is expected to create around 4000 jobs per year and once fully operational is expected to contribute to approximately 2400 permeant jobs. After the second year of operation, City of Dreams Mediterranean is expected to contribute approximately €7 million per year to the Cypriot economy, amounting to around 4% of the country’s annual GDP.
“This ground-breaking project is expected to attract an additional 300,000 tourists on an annual basis, therefore having a multiplier effect on the local economy. Additionally, the integrated Casino Resort, as an alternative form of tourism, will assist in expanding overall tourism to Cyprus, helping to overcome seasonality and establishing Cyprus as an all-year destination.”
– Irfon Dawkes, Project Director, ICR Cyprus Resort Development Co Ltd
Green Strategy
City of Dreams Mediterranean is being built according to the highest sustainability standards and adapted to the natural environment of the surrounding area. Being responsible and accountable to all of its guest, colleagues and stakeholders has always been central to developed Melco’s business philosophy. It aims to inspire guests by seamlessly integrating sustainability in their experience, demonstrating that a sustainable future is a better future. In this context, Melco has launched a new Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility strategy called “Above & Beyond”, with which it commits to achieve carbon-neutrality and zero waste across its resorts, including City of Dreams Mediterranean.
“City of Dreams Mediterranean is a large project but one that has been designed to be sensitive to its local surroundings. It also has a very adaptable and highly sustainable design with high efficiency building services including heat recovery, over 4000 photovoltaic panels and advanced energy and water monitoring systems. We are delighted that the City of Dreams Mediterranean has set a high benchmark for sustainable design in Cyprus.”
– Aristos Aristotelous, Managing Director, ELEMEC GBC
Benefits of BREEAM Certification
City of Dreams Mediterranean is an ambitious mixed use resort scheme, however one that is sensitive to the local environment and history. The design vision is to create a modern interpretation of the hillside villages that adorn Cyprus and the coastline of the Mediterranean. To achieve this, villa style forms and landscaped gardens will cascade down from the central tower across the grounds of the property. The passive design philosophy that underpins the development is one of its most striking features. This not only reduces energy consumption but creates an aesthetically pleasing structure. The project has some impressive features such as large planting areas and swimming pools which will create a pleasant microclimate atmosphere in the surrounding area, contributing to the thermal comfort and energy efficiency of the building. The accommodation features large long balcony areas with shading which will allow guest to enjoy fine views and fresh air. The technology that is employed, in areas such as heat recovery and PV panels, are very impressive. Over two thirds of the hot water will come from heat recover for example, and there are over 4000 PV panels.
The developer had an ambition of achieving BREEAM Excellent for the project to validate sustainability outcomes and demonstrate long term commitment to sustainable performance BREEAM ratings and which had previous experience of projects in the Mediterranean and Middle East region. Local climate, regulations and building practices can vary and it is important to take these into account and balancing there against the desire to achieve an international best practice standard such as BREEAM.
“We were first introduced to the City of Dreams project in 2017 and were immediately impressed by the client’s commitment to achieve high sustainability standards and their desire to understand the long-term performance implications of alternative design and material choices will have on the scheme. We are delighted to have had the opportunity to be part of the sustainability team who helped achieve the BREEAM Excellent accolade.”
– Anthony Waterman, Managing Director, ADW Developments
Environmental Categories
Maximum credits achieved in Life Cycle Costing and Service Life Planning and Commissioning and Handover.
High scores in areas such as Thermal Comfort and Acoustic Performance.
Maximum credits achieved in Reduction of Energy Use and Carbon Emissions.
Maximum credits in Mat 01 Life Cycle Impacts.
Scores very highly in Construction Waste Management.
Outcomes
City of Dreams Mediterranean is a large project but on that had been designed to be sensitive to its local surroundings. It also has a very adaptable design, for example, the building design allows for further expansion should that be required, the range of future expansion or adaptation is broad, and that means ultimately that the building is more sustainable. The building will be occupied and used all year round, and on a 24/7 basis and ultimately post-occupancy assessment will be undertaken by ADW Developments, ELEMEC GBC and Terence Beckett of Catalyst Sustainability to allow the learning from the project to be shared. This will also help optimise the seasonal commissioning of the buildings.