The research project “Collecting stories of historical buildings with the cooperation of the local community in neighborhoods of Athens and Piraeus” was launched by MONUMENTA in March 2026, with the support of the J. F. Costopoulos Foundation.The project concerns the collection of oral testimonies with the cooperation of residents regarding buildings built in the 19th and 20th centuries (1830-1975) in the neighborhoods of Psirri and Kolonos in Athens, and Agia Triada in Piraeus.
The main objectives of the program are the preservation of oral testimonies, memory, and intangible testimony about the architectural environment of Athens and Piraeus and the cooperation of the local community in the collection of testimonies so that those directly interested can get to know the city where they live and work, to appropriate it and to contribute to its protection and promotion. The historic neighborhoods of Psirri, Kolonos, and Agia Triada have been losing their historical identity and social composition in recent years due to the demolition and alteration of old buildings and their excessive commercialization and tourism.
The program includes a series of actions, such as organizing meetings with residents to collect testimonies through interviews, organizing events in collaboration with local organizations, implementing educational programs in schools, and guided tours for residents.The educational program that will be held in schools is a workshop for collecting oral testimonies.The students themselves become researchers and undertake to interview residents and graduates of their school.The material that will be collected will be included in an electronic publication.The program is expected to be completed in October 2026.
MONUMENTA has been systematically recording oral testimonies within the framework of historical building recording programs since 2013. It has created a rich Archive, open to the general public.All these years, it has been collaborating with local communities and together they undertake actions aimed at building sustainable communities that understand the value of their cultural environment and act to protect it.
Information: 6973308857, info@monumenta.org, www.monumenta.org
