Abandoned villages in the landscape of Cyprus

Yioutani-Iacovides, Maria

Abstract

This study aims to enhance the unspoiled vernacular architecture of the Abandoned Villages in the Landscape of Cyprus. It is concerned with the evaluation of their architectural and landscape significance and the establishment of a revival and rehabilitation scheme.

The research methodology was carried out on three levels: extensive survey visits to all the seventy-eight abandoned villages, documentation study and investigation of the possible contemporary uses. The study begins with the historical background: the origins, development and desertion of the villages in Cyprus and focuses on the abandoned villages' historical and geographical characteristics. It examines their cultural and economic value through an interpretation of their village-scape, their indigenous architecture and their landscape significance.

The dissertation classifies the villages into rehabitable and non-rehabitable and sets up an integrated conservation policy for their interpretation. It investigates the introduction of economically viable contemporary uses through sustainable development and integrated conservation.

The conservation policy is developed at two levels: first, the evaluation of the structural integrity of the villages' buildings to set up guidelines for their conservation and second, the investigation of the legislative framework and the opportunities for achieving development strategies. Ethics of conservation, planning and management issues arise and recommendations are given for the implementation of the conservation, rehabilitation, and interpretation schemes.

The international charters and conventions are the 'foundation stones' for the abandoned villages conservation principles. However, their conservation principles go far beyond the point of the existing framework, requiring the establishment of a Charter, applicable to the enhancement and revival of the unspoiled vernacular architecture.

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Nov 1, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 1, 2024
• Award Date: 1995-08