Island Life is a collection of photographs of a small community of permanent residents, holiday makers and their homes on the Greek island of Salamina. In the 1960’s Salamina, the nearest island to Athens, attracted working class people who had no money and couldn’t afford to travel long distances. Back then, they built a room overnight with the help of neighbours. As they had no planning permission they risked, having it demolished by the local authority. With time and depending on finances, some managed to expand or built new homes, others changed little on them.
Nowadays many of those original houses lay empty and abandoned. Their owners have died and many of their children have turned their backs to their working class roots. The island has attracted a second generation of retired academics and professionals who choose to holiday or live there due to its proximity to the capital and the life style it offers.
“My father built this house, brick by brick. He spent his life building it. He lost his left eye while working on it. It meant so much to him and gave him a huge sense of achievement”. Evi with her daughter Vasiliki.
“My father built this house, brick by brick. He spent his life building it. He lost his left eye while working on it. It meant so much to him and gave him a huge sense of achievement”. Evi with her daughter Vasiliki.
“They came and boarded up the broken window and never came back again”.
“They came and boarded up the broken window and never came back again”.
“Our home was built by my father, a builder, in the early 1960’s. It was burned down in a devastating forest fire in 1999. We have been unable to rebuilt it and every summer we stay in what is left of it” Vaggelis, Xenia & their daughter Christina
“Our home was built by my father, a builder, in the early 1960’s. It was burned down in a devastating forest fire in 1999. We have been unable to rebuilt it and every summer we stay in what is left of it” Vaggelis, Xenia & their daughter Christina
“It looks lovely but it’s abandoned”.
“It looks lovely but it’s abandoned”.
“We are new in the area compared to everybody else around here. We bought our home 9 years ago. We spent a lot of money converting the house, so it fits the needs of our son”. Spyros and Magda with their son Christos
“We are new in the area compared to everybody else around here. We bought our home 9 years ago. We spent a lot of money converting the house, so it fits the needs of our son”. Spyros and Magda with their son Christos
“We love everything about Salamina! Here you’ll find builders living together with university professors, opera singers and large chain shop owners. Such a diversity! You’ll never find this anywhere else. Such a cool, unique place and so near our main home in Athens”.
“We love everything about Salamina! Here you’ll find builders living together with university professors, opera singers and large chain shop owners. Such a diversity! You’ll never find this anywhere else. Such a cool, unique place and so near our main home in Athens”.
“When we were children I used to play with your brother. I still hold very fond memories of that time”. Despina and Yiannis
“When we were children I used to play with your brother. I still hold very fond memories of that time”. Despina and Yiannis
“It’s been standing empty for years and years”
“It’s been standing empty for years and years”
“The present house has nothing to do with what our parents built back in the 1960’s. We spent a fortune doing it up but we love it here. I was born on the island anyway, my heart belongs here”. Koula and Fanis
“The present house has nothing to do with what our parents built back in the 1960’s. We spent a fortune doing it up but we love it here. I was born on the island anyway, my heart belongs here”. Koula and Fanis
“We always cover our car to protect it from the weather elements. Too much sun in particular”.
“We always cover our car to protect it from the weather elements. Too much sun in particular”.
“Our home was built by my parents in the 1960’s. We spent quite some money to renovate it. We use it extensively and take every opportunity to come and stay. We love it here” Spyros with the family dog.
“Our home was built by my parents in the 1960’s. We spent quite some money to renovate it. We use it extensively and take every opportunity to come and stay. We love it here” Spyros with the family dog.
“They keep themselves to themselves and one never sees them going around”
“They keep themselves to themselves and one never sees them going around”
“I inherited our home from my parents who like everyone else at the time, built it by themselves in the early 1960’s. Due to restrained finances, we haven’t been able to upgrade it but we make sure we look after it”. George and Georgia
“I inherited our home from my parents who like everyone else at the time, built it by themselves in the early 1960’s. Due to restrained finances, we haven’t been able to upgrade it but we make sure we look after it”. George and Georgia
“That’s how they always cover their car so it’s protected from the sun”.
“That’s how they always cover their car so it’s protected from the sun”.
“We have been selling our garden produce by the road side for many years. We have got to know everybody in the area. It’s hard work but we’ve known nothing else all our lives” Elias and Dina.
“We have been selling our garden produce by the road side for many years. We have got to know everybody in the area. It’s hard work but we’ve known nothing else all our lives” Elias and Dina.
“We think trees are the future”.
“We think trees are the future”.
“Ours was one of the first houses in the area, built by my parents and the neighbours overnight. It’s been renovated and all the different generations in the family use it throughout the year”. Aphrodite and Panayiotes.
“Ours was one of the first houses in the area, built by my parents and the neighbours overnight. It’s been renovated and all the different generations in the family use it throughout the year”. Aphrodite and Panayiotes.
“Mr Nestoras home was such a sanctuary when we were children. One of the most affluent houses at the time. We came here a lot in the evenings and played hide and seek and all kinds of games late into the night”.
“Mr Nestoras home was such a sanctuary when we were children. One of the most affluent houses at the time. We came here a lot in the evenings and played hide and seek and all kinds of games late into the night”.
“We are very sad to see so many locked up and abandoned houses. Most of the people we originally lived with in the area have died. Their children have moved on and don’t care for all the work and effort their parents put into building these homes”. Babis & Vaso
“We are very sad to see so many locked up and abandoned houses. Most of the people we originally lived with in the area have died. Their children have moved on and don’t care for all the work and effort their parents put into building these homes”. Babis & Vaso
“The entire house is collapsing. So sad nobody takes care of it. It’s heartbreaking seeing all the deserted houses falling to pieces”.
“The entire house is collapsing. So sad nobody takes care of it. It’s heartbreaking seeing all the deserted houses falling to pieces”.
“Our home was demolished twice. The second time, police came to pull it down we all stayed in until the last second it came down. We were hoping they would take pity on us and wouldn’t demolish it. I paid very hefty fines every time but managed to rebuilt it and get it legalised in the late 1970’s”. Stelios and Despina
“Our home was demolished twice. The second time, police came to pull it down we all stayed in until the last second it came down. We were hoping they would take pity on us and wouldn’t demolish it. I paid very hefty fines every time but managed to rebuilt it and get it legalised in the late 1970’s”. Stelios and Despina
“We are religious and believe deeply in Christianity”.
“We are religious and believe deeply in Christianity”.
“Once my parents died, the house was passed on to us, the second generation. One day, our children, my parents grandchildren, the third generation, will take over”. Tanya and Sophocles with their son Giannis and their daughter in law Yu-Ging.
“Once my parents died, the house was passed on to us, the second generation. One day, our children, my parents grandchildren, the third generation, will take over”. Tanya and Sophocles with their son Giannis and their daughter in law Yu-Ging.
“Maria and Spyros used to live here. I always remember the pigeons they bred. They left their house to their grandson but he’s left it to rot”
“Maria and Spyros used to live here. I always remember the pigeons they bred. They left their house to their grandson but he’s left it to rot”
“Our gate rusted and I painted the base colour before I paint the entire front gate white. I like paying attention to small details”.
“Our gate rusted and I painted the base colour before I paint the entire front gate white. I like paying attention to small details”.
“He keeps a very low profile, you never, ever meet him in the street”.
“He keeps a very low profile, you never, ever meet him in the street”.
“Giorgos’ home has been totally abandoned. He died and his son is not well either. Such a pity. It was one of the best houses in the area”.
“Giorgos’ home has been totally abandoned. He died and his son is not well either. Such a pity. It was one of the best houses in the area”.
“Stelios and Sofia’s home was built in the early 1960’s. Stelios passed away years ago and Sofia hardly comes, but the house gets used by her daughters and their families. They are not very friendly people and take every opportunity to give you grief”. A neighbour who wished to remain anonymous.
“Stelios and Sofia’s home was built in the early 1960’s. Stelios passed away years ago and Sofia hardly comes, but the house gets used by her daughters and their families. They are not very friendly people and take every opportunity to give you grief”. A neighbour who wished to remain anonymous.
“We deeply believe in building with concrete. We think it’s the best material to last a lifetime”.
“We deeply believe in building with concrete. We think it’s the best material to last a lifetime”.
This is the main road that leads to the beach. It was made with money collected by my mother who was the treasurer of the local collective at the time. It’s made of concrete and has had no alterations or repairs on it since it was built in the late 1970’s.
This is the main road that leads to the beach. It was made with money collected by my mother who was the treasurer of the local collective at the time. It’s made of concrete and has had no alterations or repairs on it since it was built in the late 1970’s.