Spatial Planning for the Rescue of the Cycladic Identity in Paros
8 public debates on the occasion of the upcoming review of the General Urban Plan of Paros
24 February, 2 March, 9 March, 16 March, 30 and 31 March, 20 and 21 April 2024
Weekend 20/21 April
In the last two workshops of our series, we will discuss the immediate major risks and our great neglected wealth.
This is a crucial moment for the development of our island.
The pace at which the destructive urbanization is proceeding, with all that it implies for the physiognomy of Paros, is dramatic, intensifying, among other things, the dangers that the island faces from the climate crisis, which is also proceeding at a rapid pace,
But there are still ways to change the course of events. In the previous workshops, we discussed several of them. A different tourism model, a different way of development, and planning of the area that will protect it are achievable goals if we all want to do something quickly and decisively.
In these last 2 workshops, we will discuss what we can and must take care of immediately: our wonderful rural monuments (traditional houses, drystone terraces, walking paths,) that are crumbling ignored and lost among the new arrogant buildings, agricultural production that is struggling to stay alive under great pressures, our seabeds that are becoming deserted, the agricultural land that is disappearing day by day. All that has kept the island safe, functional, and thriving for millennia, and that at this moment, the climate crisis makes it more valuable and irreplaceable than ever because it embodies everything that our civilization now seeks as bioclimatic salvation.
The previous workshops have already produced important proposals that, through the Municipality of Paros, we have sent to Samaras S.A., to be taken into account in the design of the forthcoming Local Urban Plan for Paros. However, until the adoption of the L.U.P., at least two and probably four extremely crucial and decisive years will have passed. And there is much that will have been de facto decided by then. And there is a lot that we can catch up on by then. And the immediate stakeholders are us. Those of us who have loved the island, those of us who live on the island. We can put together – and take up – proposals for immediate action, and we can demand the necessary. We can be present.
The speakers who will be with us this weekend have both the theoretical knowledge and direct experience needed to help us focus on the real conditions we face on Paros today.
We are waiting for you.
Saturday 20/4
Paros facing the double burden: Climate Crisis + Anthropogenic Overload. What kind of infrastructure do we need?
- Haris Biskos, Architect, Climate Change Hub Networking and Programmes specialist
- Michalis Ragousis, Oceanologist/Biologist, Conservation Specialist at “Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency” (Ο.ΦΥ.ΠΕ.Κ.Α)
- Monica Themou, Urban Planner and Town Planner
- Themis Karpodinis, Deputy Mayor of Environment of the Municipality of Paros
Sunday 21/4
Το τοπίο που αγαπήσαμε, το τοπίο που κινδυνεύει. Aiming to safeguard
- Katerina Kanakari, Environmental Scientist, researcher on rural heritage and development issues.
- Semeli Drymonitis, Architect – Geographer, Founding Member of Mitatos Amorgos
- Katerina Moschou, Agronomist, Owner of “Parion” Cheese Factory
- Nikos Malatestas, Civil Engineer, President of Paros Park and President of the Ancient Quarries non-profit company
- Yannis Hatzopoulos, Archaeologist, Farmer, Beekeeper, Member of the Environmental Committee of the Municipality of Paros
Video recording of the workshop
Saturday 20/4
Sunday 21/4
