ANNUAL CONGRESS 2025

From Rise to Decline and Back Again? Delving into the Potential of Revitalising the Historic Neighbourhoods of Eleftheroupoli, Greece

Not scheduled

20m

Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul

Oral Track 06 | URBAN CULTURES AND LIVED HERITAGE

Speakers

Mr Panagiotis Moutsiakis (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)Ms Irem Mechmet (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)Mr Georgios Mertzanidis (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)

Description

This study investigates the historic neighbourhoods of Eleftheroupoli, a small-sized town in Northern Greece, aiming to explore how site analysis can unlock regenerative potentials for semi-derelict historic places like this. Eleftheroupoli, a former center of the tobacco industry, has witnessed significant decline in the 1980s, leading to the neglect and abandonment of its once-thriving heritage. Despite the challenges it faces, its historic neighbourhoods hold a significant cultural value that could be recognized as a living cultural landscape. This research aims to explore how a comprehensive site analysis can contribute to the revitalization of Eleftheroupoli by identifying its latent potentials for urban regeneration.
The methodology employed in this study builds on an in-depth, multi-level urban analysis and site assessment, examining Eleftheroupoli both in its current state and within its historical context. The research integrates various approaches to provide a comprehensive understanding of the site, combining traditional methods with digital tools. This includes historical and urban analysis, architectural documentation based on fieldwork and bibliographic material, archival and empirical research, such as interviews with local stakeholders, as well as identifying key administrative agencies. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used for spatial data capture and analysis, allowing for detailed mapping of the site’s evolution. Observations on the historic development of the site were made through the production of orthophoto-mosaics from historic and recent aerial photos (1952, 1973, 2016). Photographical documentation and comparative studies of relevant previous research further enrich the analysis, helping to contextualize the findings. By integrating these methods, the research enhances the standard process of historical urban site analysis with a digital approach, enabling a deeper understanding of the site’s physical, social, and cultural dynamics.
The findings of this study reveal that Eleftheroupoli has experienced a form of protection without conservation, leading to the neglect of its heritage. Although its historic neighbourhoods were demarcated and designated as a protected historic site in 1983 to safeguard its cultural and architectural significance, the lack of active preservation efforts and strategic regeneration planning has resulted in their decline. Nevertheless, the site’s collective memory remains deeply embedded in the local community’s identity, reenacting dormant spatial dynamics. Several narratives emphasize the existence of streams that once flowed through the town, as well as the historic bridges that connected the neighbourhoods on either side. If properly harnessed, these elements could play a crucial role in the neighbourhoods’ regeneration. Eleftheroupoli’s physical space is not merely a relic, but an active participant in the ongoing narrative of the community’s history. Thus, the study calls for a redefined approach to preservation—one that embraces sustainable urban regeneration and addresses the complex challenges of safeguarding cultural landscapes.
In conclusion, this research argues that the integration of fieldwork with digital humanities methodologies can reveal hidden dimensions of urban regeneration. The use of GIS for data capture and analysis, coupled with the engagement of local communities and stakeholders, provides a viable pathway for the revitalization of Eleftheroupoli. By reinterpreting the site’s urban, architectural and lived heritage as a dynamic cultural landscape through both technological and social lenses, it is possible to devise innovative strategies for preservation and regeneration that bridge the gap between the past and the future. This approach calls for a shift in how we view heritage preservation—not as a static, passive act, but as a dynamic, transformative process that can re-energize historic places and offer sustainable pathways for their future.