Protection and Revealing of Traditional Settlements and Cultural Assets, as a Tool for Sustainable Development: The Case of Kythera Island in Greece

Anastasia Vythoulka,Antonia Moropoulou,Ekaterini T Delegou,Costas Caradimas

doi:10.3390/land10121324

Anastasia Vythoulka, Antonia Moropoulou + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/land10121324

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Journal: Land	Publication Date: Dec 1, 2021
Citations: 11	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: National Technical University of Athens

Abstract

Preserving and highlighting cultural heritage is directly related to sustainable development. The adaptive reuse of cultural heritage buildings and traditional settlements can be a core issue in the implementation of a circular economy strategy, especially in remote areas. In this framework, the current study focuses on Kythera, an isolated Greek island. For the analysis of the study area, research in local archives and communication with the municipality and local stakeholders was conducted, while questionnaires addressed to Kythera’s residents and visitors were developed and processed. Thus, both the special features of the island and the needs of the local community were identified, leading to the proposal of three adaptive reuse schemes at a different scale and within a different management model. The first scheme is focused on the institution of “Eghorios Periousia” and proposes the adaptive reuse of the island’s English Schools as focal points for the promotion of Kythera’s identity. The second scheme focuses on the smaller declared traditional settlements and proposes the adaptive reuse of their housing stock as an affordable permanent residence solution. The third scheme focuses on the abandoned neighborhood of Mavrogiorgiannika in the traditional settlement of Karavas and proposes its adaptive reuse as agritourism accommodation facilities.

Highlights

The objects of cultural heritage protection and revealing consist of a multi-scale variety of assets, from individual monuments to historical complexes and areas
The revitalization of historical or traditional settlements in these areas could be accomplished by cultural heritage adaptive reuse, providing physical, economic and social benefits [52,53]
Sustainable cultural heritage management could be at the core of the overall local development plans, ensuring local social cohesion and local economic growth via tourism

Summary

Introduction

The objects of cultural heritage protection and revealing consist of a multi-scale variety of assets, from individual monuments to historical complexes and areas. The notion of cultural heritage, tangible and intangible, involves monuments of significant historical value and rural constructions, human practices and traditions [1]. The contribution of local communities living in such historic environments is crucial since the purpose of the protection of traditional settlements does include the preservation of their buildings, and the prosperity of their residents [2]. One of the basic principles of the Venice Charter (1964) is related to the definition of the notion “historic monument,” expanding it from building scale to area scale. Traditional settlements, a subcategory of historical complexes, were described as part of Greek cultural heritage in the Greek.

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