SOCIAL FORCES, URBAN GROWTH, AND TOWN PLANNING: EVOLVING VISIONS FROM A CONTEMPORARY METROPOLIS (original) (raw)
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This work focuses on the relation between the process of morphogenesis and the evolution of social structure in modern Mediterranean cities using as case study the city of Athens. Specifically this paper takes into consideration the impact that the internal migration of the postwar period had on the formation of spatial and social structure of Athens. The effects of the war decade 1940-1950 on Greek society and economy were ruinous. Progressively a big part of the countryside population was moved to cities especially to the State's capital which became the core of the developmental activity owing to the central policies of the postwar governments. A rapid urbanization process took place within the next decades; changing both the spatial and social content of Athens. Here the basic question is how this bidirectional transformation was run. Furthermore; how the State managed the installation of newcomers? Did the newcomer's cultural practices played any role towards their social adjustment? How the social capital became a key factor for the migrant's installation and adaptation in urban environment. While dealing with the above questions; the argument that comes up is that the morphogenesis (architecture; urban expansion) was not related to a top-down strategy. On the contrary it contained bottomup elements; as migrants maintained an initiative role opposite and against the State. In addition; the dialectic between space and economy left its mark on the new founded districts; representing the dimensions of Athens' social structure.