Author(s)

Kiriaki M. Keramitsoglou^1,2, Efthymia M. Mylonopoulou², Vasiliki I. Georgiou², Angelos L. Protopapas^1,3, Konstantinos P. Tsagarakis²

¹School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, Patra, Greece.
²Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Business and Environmental Technology Economics Lab, Xanthi, Greece.
³Department of Civil Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, Greece.

The simultaneous involvement of aesthetic variables and economic, social and environmental objectives in urban design and planning is quite rare, and difficult to be implemented and interpreted within a local context. The top-down approach has been the most common strategy employed in urban planning, whereas sustainability principles call for more participatory methods. This study presents a design approach to the unification of archaeological sites in the town of Didimoticho, Greece, based on public participation and sustainability criteria. A fully structured questionnaire was used to define aesthetic parameters. Six options were designed and then evaluated by the local community. Thus, taking into account the local conditions, a list of Must and a list of Wants were established according to selected sustainability criteria, which are significant tools for the Kepner-Tregoe model application. The proposed methodology revealed the optimal design solution. This systemic participatory approach applicable to urban design and planning can be implemented in other cases as well.

Genius Loci, Historic Landscapes, Multicriterion Model, Natural Landscapes, Pavement Design, Sustainable Planning

Keramitsoglou, K. , Mylonopoulou, E. , Georgiou, V. , Protopapas, A. and Tsagarakis, K. (2017) Unification of Archaeological Sites in Greece: A Design Approach Based on Public Participation and Sustainability Criteria. Current Urban Studies, 5, 236-274. doi: 10.4236/cus.2017.52014.