Rethinking Local Heritage Through Networked Perspectives: Mylos Project on Imbros (Gökçeada), Turkey

Imbros (today Gökçeada), once home to a significant Greek population, underwent profound changes after being ceded to Turkey following the First World War. The nationalist policies of the 1960s triggered a large-scale departure of the Greek community, leaving many ancestral homes neglected for decades. In 1991, these old Greek villages were designated as protected areas, accompanied by specific renovation regulations. Since the 1990s, members of the Imbrian diaspora have gradually returned to restore their homes. However, they have faced numerous challenges, including ownership disputes, a lack of skilled artisans trained in traditional construction techniques, and a limited availability of locally sourced materials. Since the 2000s, modern construction materials such as concrete and cement have become common in restoration, authorized by the conservation board. Although these materials meet immediate restoration needs, their long-term effects on structural integrity remain uncertain, raising concerns about future maintenance and the continuity of historical authenticity. This article presents the ‘Mylos Project’ as an innovative approach to the restoration challenges on Imbros. The project involves the adaptive reuse of a historic stone building that once served as a human- or animal-powered olive oil mill, now repurposed into a restaurant managed by a second-generation Imbrian Greek. By integrating traditional building techniques and collaborating with stonemasons and mortar specialists from the nearby Aeolian coast, the project exemplifies how local heritage preservation can extend beyond geographic confines to include a regional network of expertise. The article uses this case study to explore the concept of the island as a ‘unit of connectivity,’ challenging the conventional view of geographic isolation and encouraging a broader understanding of heritage adaptation. This analysis underscores the dynamic interplay between tradition and modernity, revealing how local identities are continuously remade through active and processual interactions within historical and contemporary contexts.