Refugee settlements on Alexandras Avenue, in Athens, Greece. [Nikos Kokkalias]
A new collective volume examining Greece’s refugee settlements is calling for an urgent shift in how the nation preserves its history. Experts warn these structures are being demolished at an “increasingly geometric rate” by owners fearing formal heritage designation.
Editors Amalia Kotsaki and Maria Gravari-Barbas argue that while modern architecture is often documented, the social significance of these sites remains ignored. Unlike traditional monuments, these mass-produced homes are often viewed as “orphaned,” lacking support from the state or even refugee descendants.
Michalis Pikramenos, Council of State president, emphasized moving beyond a “museum-centric” approach. He warned that neglecting sites like the Alexandra Avenue apartments risks surrendering them to unregulated development.
The book’s 12 essays highlight a “disappearing silent heritage,” urging a new management of memory before these 100-year-old traces of the refugee experience are lost. The work explores settlements across Greece, from Piraeus to the agricultural landscapes of the north.