This publication presents the presentations presented at the two scientific meetings held for the presentation of the IRC – HERMES programme and the relevant conclusions that emerged. IRC – HERMES is a colaboration of 4 cities in three Balkan countries aiming to digitaly record and evaluate buildings that constitute those cities’ Architectural Heritage, in order to explore a common strategy for the preservation and promotion of their cultural heritage. The cities that participated in the programme were Corfu, Argyrokastro and Ohrid and Vathi in Samos. IRC-HERMeS has developed a single digital database to record the most important historic buildings of the four cities, highlighting their architectural heritage and prioritizing the required maintenance and restoration interventions. At the same time, tools were developed to educate students and raise awareness of local communities on architectural heritage issues.
The edition, after short greetings, presents:
• The most important actions of the ELLINIKI ETAIRIA – Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage (ELLET) which in its 50 years of operation has developed important actions related to the Preservation and Restoration of the Architectural Heritage of historic cities and settlements.
• The overall object and objectives of the program
• A brief presentation of the characteristics of the four cities that participated in the programme.
• Presentations by representatives of the cities of the development and the results of the program, but also of the challenges they face.
• The questionnaire completed by citizens in the context of the local workshops of the four cities and the educational portal of the programme.
• The common characteristics of the traditional and ecclesiastical Architecture of Argyrokastro, Ohrid, Epirus and Western Macedonia and a summary of the common characteristics and problems of the four cities of the programme.
• Presentations by professors of the Schools of Architecture of Athens, Patra and Crete regarding the methodologies for recording historic buildings.
• Conclusions from the programme for a joint Protection and Development Strategy.
