This paper is all about highlighting the reuse of religious buildings, which are of particular interest, either due to their redesigning, or due to the change in their program- deconsecration. The research paper was written based on Greek and foreign bibliography and is structured in six chapters.
First of all, a theoretical approach to the subject was made, and the concept of adaptive reuse and its advantages were analyzed, as well as the existence of urban voids and the intervention policies applied to them. Then, the phenomenon of abandoned religious buildings was studied, the reasons and the statutory policies that apply to them and the way the issue has been approached during their reuse, citing modern approaches to deconsecration, with references and examples that have already been implemented in Europe as well as in Greece.
Highlighting many different building transformations, whether they are less invasive or more, in terms of construction or its new program, contribute in demonstrating the different ways to achieve the reuse of a religious building successfully. It is intended through this case study, to present the different approaches to solving the desolation and encouraging the transformation of the abandoned sacred buildings in our country as well. Is changing the use accepted by society and the Church? Or does the Greek Orthodox Community seem to adopt a conservative approach not only towards innovative but also conservative reuses of its buildings?