The village was dead; Long live the village!

For decades, the village and the broader region of Pogoni have faced depopulation due to urbanization and limited infrastructure. This thesis explores how architecture can act as a catalyst for revitalizing neglected areas. The proposal reactivates the settlement by repurposing existing buildings, introducing guesthouses, and creating communal and cooperative spaces. Rooted in the Slow Food movement, it reconnects local production with a broader network, cultivating economic resilience and establishing the village as a sustainable, living community beyond tourism.

Located in the remote landscape of Pogoni, near the Greek-Albanian border, Palaiο Mavronoros is a forgotten settlement, abandoned since 1964 due to urbanization and insufficient infrastructure. This project envisions its revival through an architectural and landscape design strategy, positioning the village as a model for rural regeneration. The international Slow Food movement serves as a vehicle for reviving the settlement by leveraging the local cultural heritage and redeveloping the area’s primary and secondary sectors. By utilizing the region’s rich gastronomic identity, it creates an ecosystem that links local production with a trans-regional network of goods, recipes, and collaborations. The establishment of the Pogoni Agricultural Cooperative is essential to this transformation, connecting small-scale producers with broader markets through sustainable farming, artisanal food production, and knowledge exchange. This design approach is both sensitive to tradition and responsive to contemporary needs. It includes the adaptive reuse of five existing houses, the creation of three guesthouses, and the development of communal and cooperative spaces. These interventions aim to attract both long-term residents and visitors, fostering a dynamic, self-sustaining community. This initiative focuses on preservation and reactivation —redefining rural life through economic empowerment and cultural celebration. By integrating tourism as a complementary force rather than a primary industry, we propose a holistic model where culture, landscape, and agriculture converge, showcasing how design can bring life back into neglected territories.