A U T O N O M A Towards the Collective City

International Conference on Urban Autonomy and the Collective City

Onassis Cultural Center, 1 & 2 July 2016

Productive transformation and social reconstruction in the rural areas of GreeceTHE EXAMPLE OF THE AREA BETWEEN

MOUNT MINTHE AND THE KYPARISSIAN BAY

Eleni Portaliou , National Technical University of Athens, School of Architecture

INTRODUCTION  The catastrophic fires during the summer of 2007 enforced the tendencies of rural exodus in the mountainous and semi-mountainous settlements around Mount Minthe, in the Helia prefecture.

Districts been attacked from the fire

Forests source: WWF

Kyparissian bay

Mountain Minthe

Giannitsochori

Kaiafa Lake

Mountain Minthe

Pyrgos

Kyparissia

This area has very important natural and monumental resources that are not under protection nowadays, and great areas fit for cultivation and pasture that remain unexploited.Additionally, the large zone of the Kyparissian bay, extending from Kaiafas Lake to Giannitsochori, in the foot of Minthe, suffers from an intensive exploitation (arbitrary building, illegal pasture, destruction of Natura 2000 areas, etc).

“Restoration and new use of two ex school buildings in the Helia prefecture” (2009)

“Protective policies and the institutional framework in Natura 2000 areafrom Katakolo to Kyparissia” (2014)

The conclusions of a research program for the aforementioned area, conducted in Athens School of Architecture, titled “Restoration and reuse of two former school buildings in the Helia prefecture” (2009), and of a personal study on “Protective policies and the institutional framework in the Natura 2000 area from Katakolo to Kyparissia” (2014), indicate some alternative directions for the productive transformation and the revival of the settlements that are currently in decline. This means an alternative way of working and living in the entire area, from the mountain to the seaside, for the permanent and semi-permanent inhabitants as well as the visitors.

The paper focuses on the aforementioned case study in order to contribute to the debate on sustainable rural production and alternative naturalist / cultural tourism and, consequently, on the harmonious relations of coexistence between the people and the environment (nature and history).The model of development in the Greek rural areas exhausts the available resources without securing satisfactory living conditions for the population. The paper inquires a whole revision and transformation of the productive activities so that they become sustainable in the long-term and develop complementarily. The productive activity of primary production - agriculture and cattle breeding - will be strengthened if it works together with naturalist and cultural tourism, under strict conditions of the protection of monuments.

The Identity of Place ( genius loci ) The place is constituted as a mosaic of natural and cultural pieces.

Mountain Minthe Here, over a long time span, all kinds of vegetation (Mediterranean forests, olive groves, vineyards), brooks, gullies, ravines, together with interspersed settlements have been created.

MOUNTAIN ΜΙΝΤΗΕ, MOUNTAINOUS AND SEMI - MOUNTAINOUS SETTLEMENTS

Settlements The rich natural environment, the arable land and the pasture shape their physiognomy. Most buildings were constructed during the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. There has been continuous habitation from the ancient times until today, which is imprinted in time and space.

The two former school buildings - one in Kalidona (Sarena) and another in Taxiarches (Mofkitsa) - that constitute two focal points for the travel around the area will start, after their restoration, a new life. The former school of Kalidona is transformed into a Centre for the Natural Environment throughout the years and Research on policies for its reconstitution and protection. The former school of Taxiarches is transformed into a Centre for Traditional Architecture, for the settlements and monuments of the district. Both of them will function as starting points for two different tours that create a natural and monumental open museum. This parallel activity helps people to remain in their settlements and makes possible the return of the agricultural production from the coastal zone (Natura) to the broader area of the mountainous and semi-mountainous settlements.

school in Kalidona

school in Taxiarches

Kalidona (Sarena)

Taxiarches (Mofkitsa)

Kalidona

Taxiarches

The two ex schools of Kalidona and Taxiarches function as starting points for two different tours, that create a natural and monumental open museum

COASTAL AND SEA ZONE CORRESPONDING TO THE MOUNTAINOUS AND SEMI -MOUNTAINOUS OF MINTHE(part of the broader area from Katakolo to Kyparissia)  

The coastal and sea zone that we examine includes important Natura areas that are protected by the European directives: sand dunes, the coastal forest of Zacharo, the Kaiafa lake, Strofilia, Kakovatos, the sea zone of Kyparissian Bay, sand dunes and part of the dried lake Agoulinitsa from the Alfeios river mouth to the Neda river mouth (area for egg-laying of Caretta-caretta).

Kaiafa’s lake Strofilia Dunes with forest

Alfeios river mouth Neda river mouth Neda river

Also, the fauna and the poultry fauna of the area are very rich. Ducks, herons, many kinds of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles live there permanently or during the months of migration.

Buteo buteo

Carduelis chloris C. carduelis

Himantopus himantopus

Ardea cinerea

Egretta garzetta

lutra-lutra

pinna nobilis

Pipistrellus pygmaeus

syngnathus abaster

Pressures on the Natura areas are permanent and have disrupted the continuity and the quality of sensitive ecosystems: arbitrary building and pasture, fires, pollution, illegal fishing and touristic activities, etc.In spite of the catastrophic fires (2007) and the referral of Greece to the European Court because of transgressions of environmental legislation, nothing has changed in the coastal and sea zone. On the contrary, the Environment Ministry tried to legalize all the arbitrary uses and also allow them in the future. However, after the intervention of the ecological movement and some active citizens, the Council of State did not accept the legislative decree and forced the Environment Ministry to bring a new one that will protect the aforementioned area.

The reconstitution of continuity and the rehabilitation of the ecosystems are possible, provided that a new legislative decree is enacted that will designate the entire area as a National Park, will set strict terms for protection, and will appoint an administrative authority to implement the decree.Under these new conditions, the coastal and sea zone is given to alternative naturalist tourism while agricultural production is developed in the broader, non-prohibited area, in the foot of Mount Minthe.