Symbolic cities and spaces: "cities" formed by non-residents by Socrates Kabouropoulos

I could start this short sequence of observations, by the obvious statement that “each thing obtains the significance that we, ourselves, are ascribing to it”.

Following the theory of regional policy, we normally think of cities and regions from the point of view of the local authorities, supposed to stand for the nominal representatives of the local community. While working for the “Local Development Project” of the N. Kydonia region, it first occurred to me that this attitude might have to face some problems of legitimization.

What would happen, for instance, if the local communities decided to interfere with a place of rich natural beauty, in order, e.g. to construct a big technical work, following all the democratic proceedings? Who would remain then, to protect the place from a major physical destruction?

I remember once, in 1986, when I first came to Crete, the impression I had from a certain site in the southern part of the Island (Sfakia). A huge but quite remote beach was almost completely self-organized and run by it’s daring visitors. The beach had clean water coming out of it, among the stones Holes have been opened everywhere, classified and labeled as “fridge”, “shower”, “drinking water”, etc. Clear signs on the rocks, were leading anyone to eco-friendly toilets, or even to little “shops” (tents), where one could only buy jewels made up by the stones of the sea. There were people staying on that beach for the whole season, and others who were going and coming back to it for more than 8 years, continuously.

Some 7 years later, in 1993, the local communities decided that they needed the water to resolve the problem of the lack of water supply to the nearby village of Loutro. They constructed a big pumping and piping installation in the middle of the beach, using reinforced concrete and big overground pipelines. Together with a “taverna”, illegally built by a native on the rocks, and a daily boat service (to go and go back) later provided, it all resulted in the collapse of the whole self-organized network of tourists.

The N. Kydonia region (Ag. Apostoli to Ag. Marina / Platanias and Gerani), is a suburban area spread along the north-western coast of Chania. It holds the main part of Chania’s tourism, some 300 000 people, during the summer. City facilities are not yet properly organized, which is a major problem in the area. The main road is rather narrow and passes through the villages, which is also an actual problem (slow movement of the cars, traffic congestion, safety problems for the pedestrians).

Resting on the beach of Ag. Marina, in the weekend (as I usually do for the last few years), I was thinking that Ag. Marina and Platanias are places of rest, of holidays and of leisure, and that’s exactly what we have selected them to serve for. In summer, a scenery is installed totally different from the everyday routine life. First, one has this multinational mixture of people. Second, there are all these various little places where friends meet spontaneously, without having communicated in advance (like the beach volley for veterans, for instance, in front of Ag. Marina Camping). “Professional racket players just go there to meet their partners. Jet-Ski exhibitions for young lyceum girls, in front of the Amalthia Hotel. Parachute flight, a few meters further.

Behaviors differentiate as well. The feeling of freedom and of negligence, the sense of nothing being really important, small unintended movements. Simplicity goes together with less a need for clothes. Stretching of the bodies, encouraged by nature’s warmth. Natural / daring attitudes, negligent looks, maybe a little flirt.

Late in the afternoon while withdrawing to the center of Platanias, feeling gently exhausted, this hollow noise of cars, scooters, people coming and going in an area lit by the first evening lights, is taking you off. The misfunction of the pavement at this moment is not a real problem.

If only regional planning theory could also see things from the point of view of the non-residents.

Platanias is a place where orange trees, grapes and flowers go together with buildings and hotels, where the old man dressed in his underwear enjoys his soft sleep in front of a greenhouse, where a young student was wandering once, trying to get a job in the greenhouses.

At night, the street is redefined by those who take possession of it, turning into a long dark line taking everyone to the night clubs.

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Symbolic cities and spaces: "cities" formed by non-residents by Socrates Kabouropoulos