In support of joint action: Methods for the effective cooperation of public authorities and non-conservation experts in the protection of the “modern” monuments of Thessaloniki

The city of Thessaloniki, the second most populous in Greece, boasts a remarkable architectural heritage, in reflection of a unique, uninterrupted history of nearly 24 centuries. A most significant segment of this legacy are the city’s 19th and 20th-century historic buildings, which are nowadays referred to as “modern” monuments. Under the Greek Constitution, their protection is an obligation of the State, and at the same time, a right of every citizen. Hence, parallel to the relative actions of the responsible state body, one notes a growing number of initiatives by non-specialist individuals, which aim to strengthen protection. So far, their impact has been minimal, a result of poor communication and coordination with the responsible Service. Yet the prospect of a fruitful cooperation remains attainable and, on the present occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Faro Convention, calls for a methodical pursuit. To promote this effort, the present paper initially discusses the hitherto action of each side and then shapes an initial set of basic methods for a fruitful joint effort.