Keywords: Industrial Heritage, Adaptive Reuse, Urban Resilience, Housing, Corfu
Abstract:
Background / Rationale:
Industrial heritage is a crucial aspect of cultural heritage, reflecting socio-economic transformations related to industrial production, technological development, and labour organisation (TICCIH, 2003). In Corfu, organised industrial activity emerged from the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth century in sectors such as olive-oil processing, soap production, and textiles, shaping urban and coastal landscapes. Despite its historical significance, this industrial layer remains understudied and insufficiently integrated into contemporary heritage management (Berger and High, 2019).
Objectives / Research Question:
This study investigates Corfu’s industrial heritage and its potential role in urban regeneration. It addresses three research questions:
Which industrial buildings and production sites constituted Corfu’s industrial landscape during the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth centuries?
What is their current condition, spatial distribution, and institutional protection status?
How can adaptive reuse strategies contribute to preservation while also supporting social objectives, including housing and inclusive urban development?
Methods / Approach:
The study adopts a combined historical, spatial, and architectural approach. Archival research, historical documentation, and spatial mapping are complemented by a database recording typology, condition, protection status, and current use of industrial buildings. Emblematic cases include the AEBEK olive-oil refinery in Mandouki, the Patounis soap factory, and the former Desyllas textile facilities in Garitsa. Technical, regulatory, and administrative constraints affecting adaptive reuse—including structural conditions, heritage legislation, planning regulations, and local authority involvement—are analysed (Wirth, Harfst and Bieberstein, 2012).
Results / Findings:
The findings illustrate how industrial heritage sites embody historical, technological, and social values while offering potential for adaptive reuse. Systematic documentation reveals opportunities for integrating these sites into urban regeneration strategies. Preservation and reuse of industrial complexes can support social objectives, including addressing housing needs, promoting inclusive urban development, and enhancing resilience in the built environment (Otgaar, van den Berg and Braun, 2010).
Conclusions / Implications:
The study demonstrates that industrial heritage can play a pivotal role in shaping resilient urban futures. By linking preservation with social objectives and adaptive reuse, heritage-led strategies can inform policy, planning, and practice in Corfu and similar Mediterranean destinations. These insights contribute to broader discussions on cultural heritage, urban resilience, and socially responsible regeneration initiatives.
References:
Berger, S. and High, S. (2019) Industrial Heritage and the Uses of the Past. London: Routledge.
Otgaar, A., van den Berg, L. and Braun, E. (2010) Industrial Tourism: Opportunities for City and Enterprise. Farnham: Ashgate.
Wirth, P., Harfst, J. and Bieberstein, C. (2012) ‘Industrial heritage and regional development’, Sustainability, 4(5), pp. 1–16.
