The Industrial Heritage of Greece: A Review of the 20th Century Through Qualitative Combined Analysis
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: This paper examines industrial heritage, beginning with the emergence of industrial archaeology in Europe as a response to the large-scale destruction of historic industrial buildings. It further analyses how this international trend was transferred—albeit in a temporally delayed manner—to Greece, where state indifference and processes of deindustrialization initially led to the devaluation of more recent industrial monuments. Through four case studies (the Matsaggos Tobacco Factory, Technopolis, Lavrion, and Papastratos), different models of reuse are analyzed, including cultural, academic, and private-led approaches. The findings indicate that adaptive reuse is recognized as a best practice for achieving sustainability in industrial heritage conservation. However, its application in the Greek context requires careful planning to prevent urban exclusion, while ensuring a balance between economic development and the preservation of historical memory.
Source: Qeios
DOI: 10.32388/4g0hbh
Authors: Eirini Vasileiadi, Theodore Metaxas
Language: English
Subfield: Archeology (arts and humanities)
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7225645615