Applied Field Studies in Greece

Sustainable Community Development on the Ionian Island of Kefalonia


AWISHhellas operates an academic university program sponsored by Huxley College of the Environment, Western Washington University, in association with AHA International, the University of Oregon, and the Northwest Council of Study Abroad Universities.

The Kefalonia program offers a well-integrated, multi-disciplinary approach to field studies designed for upper division undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of sustainable design and urban planning, environmental studies, landscape design and architecture, natural resources management, community development, social anthropology, and sustainable economic development.

The program emphasis is on applied studies, and students work locally to create sustainable redevelopment plans for the reconstruction of Blue Village, which fell during the 1953 island earthquake. Developed during long-term Venetian occupation, remnants of Blue Village's glorious past remain and include masterful ochre and blue plastered walls of pedestrian village structures. Students work on the reconstruction of this once sustainable community by contributing to redevelopment plans which apply best management practices and energy systems while preserving the historic design and customary uses of the historic community. Surrounded by an economic base of oil orchards which will once again help sustain its rebirth, Blue Village , along with other island offerings, makes Kefalonia the perfect location for the study of sustainable community development.

Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian Islands, with a total area of 688 square kilometers. It lies to the south of the Islands of Lefkada and Ithaca, and to the north of the Island of Zakynthos, opposite the mouth of the Gulf of Corinth. The island is mountainous, with peaks running from the most northerly cape to the extreme south. Mt. Ainos is the highest of the mountains, with its tallest peak at 1,626 meters, Megalos Soros is covered with a very rare species of fir tree unique to the island.

Kefalonia is a beautiful island of contrasts--it has quiet, windless beaches and verdant slopes, but it also has steep cliffs plunging into the sea and mountainsides clad in the deep shadow of fir forests. The climate is mild and belongs to the Mediterranean maritime category, that is, the summer is dry and the winter warm and wet.


An International Study Abroad Program Sponsored by:



AHA International (An academic program of the University of Oregon)


Click on the logo to visit AHA International for detailed information and applications for this program



Huxley College of the Environment, Western Washington University


AWISHhellas





"I was blown away at the hospitality in this place. From our interviews with villagers to just shaking hands with local government officials, we were treated the same - always a warm welcome and smile, often an invitation to dinner and a thanks for our presence."

Fall, 2005

Integrated Curriculum in Sustainable Community Development, 5 courses up to 16 credits , offered each term
Students working in FarsaClick a course title for full syllabus

1. Planning Studio: Architectural CAD and design (4 credits-40 contact hours)
US visiting faculty

An integrative applied studio project synthesizing social, cultural, economic, biophysical, technological, and urban design considerations in planning to produce a master plan for community redevelopment. Physical development plans are produced and presented to the community


2. Sustainable Architectural Design Studio (3 credits) - US visiting faculty
Evaluation Drawing skills, rendering, construction design. This intensive course develops alternative designs for sustainable reconstruction based on knowledge about historic building design practices and available materials.


3. Sustainable Tourism and Economic Development (4 credits-45 contact hours) - A W.I.S.H. Hellas faculty

Principles of economic development and design for community sustainability. Consideration of environmental equity, social justice, and the underlying human values, processes and methodological approaches for achieving community tourism and development. The course emphasizes understanding of issues concerning sustainability and the impacts of tourism on social, environmental and economic development.


4. Language and Culture of Kefalonia (4 credits-45 contact hours)
A W.I.S.H. Hellas faculty

Modern Greek language and comparative studies in traditional and contemporary Greek culture, integrating performing and visual arts. Students will explore the idea of “community” through different artistic mediums including modern dance, photography, and video. The course emphasizes understanding about traditional and contemporary cultures of Greece, including local agriculture, music, dance, and myth narratives.


5. Sustainable Infrastructure (4 credits-40 contact hours)
A W.I.S.H. Hellas faculty

Selected topics in community infrastructure design. Sustainability principles applied to the design of individual and community water supply, multimodal transportation, wastewater treatment, communications and other systems infrastructure.


6. Sustainable Energy Systems Design (3 credits-30 contact hours)- A W.I.S.H. Hellas faculty
Evaluation and design of alternative energy systems for individual and community applications .


7. Agro Ecology and Sustainable Agricultural Communities (3 credits-30 contact hours)- US visiting faculty / A W.I.S.H. Hellas faculty
Ecological concepts and principles applied to design and manage sustainable food production to support community culture and economy, emphasizing technologies and policies that promote energy, soil, biodiversity, and water conservation as well as social and economic equity in agricultural systems.


8. Uncovering the social community (3 credits-30 contact hours) - US visiting faculty / A W.I.S.H. Hellas faculty
Ecological concepts and principles applied to design and manage sustainable food production to support community culture and economy, emphasizing technologies and policies that promote energy, soil, biodiversity, and water conservation as well as social and economic equity in agricultural systems.


9. Planning Studio with Community based GIS (3 credits-30 contact hours)- US visiting faculty
Ecological concepts and principles applied to design and manage sustainable food production to support community culture and economy, emphasizing technologies and policies that promote energy, soil, biodiversity, and water conservation as well as social and economic equity in agricultural systems.

10.Planning Studio (4 credits-45 contact hours) - US visiting faculty
An integrative applied studio project synthesizing social, cultural, economic, biophysical, technological, and urban design considerations in planning to produce a master plan for community redevelopment. Community development plans are produced and presented to the community. The 2008 spring term applies theories and methods in community resiliency planning to develop a "resiliency plan" for the case study village.

11. Sustainable Community Resiliency - (4 credits-40 contact hours) US visiting faculty Part 1 & Part 2.
Disaster mitigation planning for community safety, resiliency, and recovery, special focus on earthquake risk management and other natural and man made threats to community sustainability

The school

Lithostroto



The light house

USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT KEFALONIA


The weather in Kefalonia