Incentives needed to encourage restoration
A curse or a blessing? Classifying a building as historically listed not only affects the city’s historic character but the economic exploitation of private property. Naturally the latter is more important for the owners of these buildings; the former for everyone else. It is yet another conundrum that has been exacerbated by the state’s lack of a clear policy over the past 30 years – and made even worse by the average Greek’s poor comprehension of historical continuity. The truth lies somewhere in the middle, since the need to save old buildings of architectural value is inextricably linked to initiatives the state ought to provide owners to offset the cost. The point is that there are thousands of buildings listed for preservation by the Environment and Public Works Ministry (as well as by the Culture Ministry) but no one can guarantee that they will be saved. The fate of those that collapse after being abandoned for years is typical of what happens in many Greek cities and towns, particularly Athens, where buildings of great historical, architectural and aesthetic value are listed virtually on paper alone. Abandonment usually results in much higher renovation costs with the passage of time. This brings the major issue of a city’s image and historical memory down to the level of economic criteria, widening the chasm between the people and the state. Often the declassification of a building that had previously been listed shows that the criteria are extremely flexible and arbitrary. A number of different arguments from various quarters can influence a decision to list a building or to allow its partial demolition and reconstruction. Athens and other major cities and towns contain a wealth of architectural styles that are rarely highlighted as part of Greece’s urban development, let alone as part of Europe’s history of ideas, art and technology. If one focuses on Athens, one observes that apart from the older areas of the city, such as Plaka, Metaxourgeio or Thiseion, most listed buildings date from the early decades of the 20th century. Most private buildings from the 19th century had already been pulled down before the state put a stop to the unrestricted demolition of old buildings. But if the state really wants to do something about the situation, it will have to establish incentives for the restoration of private buildings dating from 1850-1940, of which there are a considerable number in towns such as Nafplion and even Patras. Cultivating awareness of the value of these buildings will foster a love of what they represent rather than nostalgia or sentimentality, and bring them back into the mainstream.
