Greece may be experiencing trying times and undoubtedly for the media, good news is usually no news, but behind the ongoing refugee influx, the growing joblessness, the political havoc and the ailing economy, there are dozens of stories of people working together to re-invent a new Greece, one where dreams of a brighter future can move the crushed hopes of the past decade aside and wipe the slate clean.
One such event happened in the tiny town of Agios Nikolaos on the Greek island of Crete, last week, where thanks to private initiative and public support, Ecoweek 2016 took off, bringing together young designers and architecture students from across the globe to work side by side with experts, attend workshops and volunteer to put into practice novel ideas that could grow into a better future for the residents.
“We know change is in the hands of the people, and the idea behind Ecoweek is to give them tips on how to go about it, to empower them with this knowledge, to make them part of this change and ultimately to promote cooperation through exchange,” the man behind Ecoweek, Dr Elias Messinas, explains.
The weeklong experience included everything from lectures on how to create entirely green homes, build infrastructure to meet the basic needs of refugee communities, as well as bring whole neighborhoods on board city projects which they design, create and take care of to volunteer projects at local schools, film screenings and beach-cleaning events.
EuZen Architecture presented award-winning plans for an innovative bioclimatic school slated for construction on Crete, and aimed at offering experiential learning through the environment. Izmir-based architect Thanos Stasinopoulos offered a low cost solution on how to set up schools for refugees by the use of gabions, steel baskets which could be filled with anything from ruins and debris to stones and gravel. University of Crete professor and architect Panos Parthenios - inspired by Greek innovator Iannis Xenakis - took a surprise approach to sustainability and architecture by inviting students to “tune in” to their environment seeking balance and harmony in their works. Emmy Award-winning Greek light designer Eleutheria Deko spoke of therapeutic lighting and how it should be implemented into city planning for healthier citizens while in a more sceptical tone regarding “the sustainability of architecture”, Vancouver-based architect Chris Doray urged newcomers to the profession to do the work, get their hands “dirty” and avoid easy solutions.
And all this took place in the coastal town of Agios Nikolaos, mostly known for its VIP tourism but also very near the island of Spinalonga, which once housed a leper community and which came to fame after the publication of the 2005 Victoria Hislop novel The Island.
“Particularly in this time of crisis, it is vital that we empower people with the knowledge that there are solutions, there are ways to achieve sustainability without huge budgets, and in short periods of time make changes that will positively affect their daily lives,” Messinas, who is also an environmental planner and consultant, adds, after he examines the work done at a local grade school - a new learning garden and sitting area for the kiddies.
The event came to fruition thanks to the initiative of the G&A Mamidakis Foundation, under the auspices of the Agios Nikolaos Municipality with the support of bluegr Hotels & Resorts, LoveGreece.gr and local volunteers.
“It really comes down to this… We do not have the luxury to be on opposite sides. We need each other and it can only be a win-win situation for all parties involved,” Dr Messinas says when asked about public-private partnerships (PPPs).
“Agios Nikolaos is a great example of this; where private and public and NGOs have joined forces providing the resources for the experts to offer insight into one cause.”
For the mayor of Agios Nikolaos, Antonios Zervos, “it is only through small interventions that we can see the bigger picture of what needs to be done and thus take the necessary action to make that change on a larger scale.”
“Through initiatives like Ecoweek, young people come to share and generate ideas as to how they would like cities to operate,” he adds.
Active in 15 countries across Europe and the Middle East and with an international network in 54 countries, the Ecoweek initiative aims to promote the principles of sustainability through design. Next stops include Kosovo and Israel in September, Romania in October and Thessaloniki in November.