Abstract

The destruction of Asia Minor in 1922 was a milestone for the Greek history of the Twentieth century, as it was connected with a vast demographic refugee flow. This demographic flow was the starting point for the establishment of the social housing sector in Greece. Taking into consideration the international experience on this issue, this paper illustrates the beginning and end of social housing in Greece, due to the contemporary economic crisis. An experience of ninety-four years of housing policy reveals its influence on the physiognomy of the urban tissue. From this point of view, this article presents the conclusions from a research conducted in forty-four post-refugee urban areas, depicting and analyzing the connection between architectural designs and quality of life. The research methods include extensive field work as well as bibliographic research. This piece of information may contribute to the essential knowledge needed when it comes to urban renewal programs, especially in terms of collective memory.