A global multidisciplinary network on housing research and learning Shrinking Cities, The case of Volos Vasiliki Anagnostopoulou, Dimitra Patra, Panagiota.

A global multidisciplinary network onhousing research and learning

Shrinking Cities, The case of Volos

Vasiliki Anagnostopoulou, Dimitra Patra, Panagiota Pouliou,

University of Thessaly, Department of Architecture

COTTBUS, 1-6th June, 2015 Second International Workshop

The phenomenon of shrinking cities through the example of the city of Volos.

• The definition of the shrinking city as a global phenomenon• Five main causes of urban shrinkage• Urban shrinkage as a result of economic globalisation and international economic

crisis• The case of the shrinking Greek cities• The case of Volos, Greece• Abandoned buildings in Volos and their reuse• Volos as a shrinking city compared with Agria as a growing city

Cottbus Workshop

SUMMARY

The phenomenon of shrinking cities

Cottbus Workshop

What is a shrinking city?

A densely populated urban area

Minimum population: 10.000 residents

Population losses for more than two years

The phenomenon of shrinking cities

1950-2000: 370 cities all over the world with a population over 100.000 inhabitants started to shrink.

1990-2000: Every fourth city in the world was shrinking

The phenomenon of shrinking cities

Cottbus Workshop

Causes of urban shrinkage

• Surburbanization

• Economic transformation

• Economic restructuring

• Economic crisis

• Demographics, economic and political immigration

The phenomenon of shrinking cities

Cottbus Workshop

Urban shrinkage as a result of economic globalisation and international economic crisis. The case of peripheral European cities with vulnerable and weak economies.

• rapid and unregulated economic and physical growth in the 2nd half of the 20th century

• The capacity of the industries to switch location

The case of Greece

Cottbus Workshop

Globalisation and economic crisis. The case of the shrinking Greek cities.

• the rapid economic growth of Greece during the ΄90s.

• high public investments in large urban development/redevelopment schemes and transportation projects in Athens.

• the immigration flows from the Balkan countries to the Greek cities

Τhe case of Volos

Cottbus Workshop

Volos: Middle-sized city 150.000 inhabitants Enhancement the productive age group of 25-54 years.

Τhe case of Volos

Formal Industrial Activity

• 19th century: one of the most dynamic industrial centre in Greece

• 1930: 984 industrial companies were operating in Volos with approximately 6,000 employees.

• Second World War: The end of the industrial development

• 1950: the once thriving businesses collapsed

• 1980: The industrial building heritage protection policy include new uses for the existing buildings

The case of Agria

Volos – Agria

Agria: 6 klm southesast 6500 residents

20th century: Demographic and industrial development

Remarkable touristic infrastructure

The case of Agria

Goritsa hill: Natural obstacle between the two cities

Lafarge Factory: Artificial obstacle between the two cities

Cottbus Workshop

CONCLUSIONS

The shrinking Greek cities have to path their own way in developing urban policies to deal with shrinkage. However, on the ground of international experience, certain steps or directions in this process may be proposed:

• Urban shrinkage has to be recorded, surveyed, understood and interpreted in each Greek city. In virtue of its dynamic character, urban shrinkage has to be recorded constantly by means of an observatory recording changes.

• The negative effects of the economic crisis and the urban shrinkage may be considered as a challenge to remodel urban growth and restructure inner city areas in Greek cities or in any other European shrinking city.