25-10-2006
The Thracian refugee house

Chrisa Melkidi Source: C.E.T.I. © Eastern Macedonia – Thrace Region

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The Thracian-Macedonian house is a monument of urban architecture that constitutes a liaison between the Ottoman and the contemporary period of Greek history. It has a specific typology, ground adaptation and ways of composing big town planning units. It reflects the way of life of refugees – inhabitants of the big urban centers of the Ottoman empire. It is a monument of constructive technology in Greece while the traditional construction is related for the first time to the technological history of the country with applications of new materials, i.e concrete. This is why many areas, like Xanthi, were named by the local community as “concrete” ones.


Sources: Ch. Melkidi, G. Mitsou, “Pageo”, Greek Traditional Architecture, Melisa, Athens 1991 pp. 113-144, Chr. Melkidi, Muslim monuments of Xanthi and their contribution to the evolution of urban planning of the city. PhD Thesis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Polytechnic School, October 1999.