Case studies

Community architecture, two case studies: Rhodes and Tyre

In the framework of Mare Nostrum Paralleli Institute is responsible for the implementation of the WP2  Community Architecture concerning the preparation of awareness actions towards the local population about the cultural heritage and its protection. The question that has guided the Institute has been: is it possible to imagine a touristic integrated action that really starts from the needs of the territory and from its citizens? To answer this question Paralleli, with the collaboration of local partners, developed a pilot project in two harbor cities included in Mare Nostrum: Rhodes in Greece, and Tyre in Lebanon. The idea was that it is possible to use a bottom-up approach to think and plan participated actions shared with the people, as a first step for the implementation of subsequent actions of the project. This was possible, within a year, through the preparation of a process that has used the tools of participatory planning. The process was carried out in stages which saw the involvement of residents, administrators, tourism operators, local partners, associates, etc. After an initial phase in which the two cities have been mapped in order to identify strengths and weaknesses in relation to the tourism sector and its interaction with the local context, the action foresees various moments as technical meetings, outreach-research in the field (real life stories and realization of neighborhood walks)and thematic focus groups. Such events were  key occasions for the design of sustainable and shared itineraries that take into account local needs, as well as avenues to  familiarize the public and key stakeholders with the project .