Burnt stone homes to be rebuilt
Civil engineers touring the fire-ravaged villages of the Peloponnese have advised against demolishing the stone structures of the damaged homes, saying they should be rebuilt in the traditional style. Following an inspection of the worst-hit municipalities, including those of Zacharo, Andritsaina, Ancient Olympia and Pirgos, experts from the National Technical University of Athens said the traditional stone structures were extremely fire-resistent and a good model for engineers rebuilding the damaged villages. «With the old stone houses, even if their roofs had collapsed, their stone structure was essentially untouched,» the group’s leader, Elisavet Vitzilaiou, told Kathimerini. In several cases, aluminium and glass surfaces had melted, showing that stone can withstand temperatures of up to 750 Celsius (1,382 Fahrenheit), Vitzilaiou said. Apart from its practical characteristics, the stone is also a traditional feature that should be preserved, experts believe. «Even if they are not listed buildings, it is worth repairing them in a way that does not alter the appearance of the settlements,» said Vitzilaiou, who also advised against «barging in like a bull in a china shop and destroying everything.» Newer-style homes of concrete and wood that were destroyed in the fires can also be rebuilt with stone so that they are more resilient and blend with the other more traditional homes, experts said. The group, which aims to draft a construction guide for the engineers that will rebuild the villages, is to visit fire-ravaged parts of Evia in the next few days. From their exchanges with villagers so far, the visiting engineers said they were impressed by the locals’ determination to stay and rebuild their lives rather than relocating. «They are gradually clearing up the remnants of their burnt homes, some have put up temporary covers where their roofs used to be – it is very encouraging that these people are determined to stay in their villages,» explained Vitzilaiou.
