Over the last few centuries, Nicosia, on the island of Cyprus, has been known, at least in part, for its walls . There’s the Venetian Wall, a 16th-century fortification that defines the city’s historic center. And, more recently, there’s the wall that has divided the city between Cyprus and Turkey during their longstanding political dispute. Now, however, Ateliers Jean Nouvel has given the Nicosia yet another wall in the form of a newly built tower. White Walls, as the project is known, is a 16-story building that houses residential units and office and retail space. Located just south of the Venetian Wall and next to the iconic Eleftheria Square, the property has helped reshape one of Nicosia’s most significant sites.

In a city where summer temperatures hover near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the building’s pale façades are not just an aesthetic flourish. The white surfaces cut down on heat gain from the intense sun, while the distinctive openings that dot the building’s southern side act as brises soleil (an architectural element that reduces interior temperatures by deflecting sunlight). The project’s other trademark feature—vegetation seen growing through the façade’s openings—adds yet another cooling effect.

Ateliers Jean Nouvel implemented many techniques to ensure the building cut down on insulated heat, including the addition of vegetation.

Nicosia has been in the sights of contemporary developments, too. Back in 2005, for example, Zaha Hadid won a competition to redesign Eleftheria Square. That project, however, is currently on hold. But now, with White Walls, the same district has taken a big step into the 21st century.