The recent death of Alexandros Tzoni on March 1st in Paris at the age of 89 has brought renewed attention to the longstanding issue of refugee shanties in Greece, a subject that has often been overlooked. Tzoni, an influential architect and thinker, dedicated over fifty years alongside his partner Liane Lefaivre to studying the "invisible" world of makeshift housing, which not only housed the impoverished but also embodied the collective trauma and enduring spirit of a society striving to regain its footing.

The arrival of approximately 1.5 million refugees following the Greco-Turkish War in 1922 represented not just a demographic shift, but a profound upheaval for a struggling state. This mass influx posed significant challenges as Greece faced the herculean task of integrating people who had lost everything: their homeland, assets, and social standing. Housing these individuals became an immediate priority, revealing the systemic struggles and the repercussions of displacement that permeated Greek society.

Tzoni's work sheds light on the broader implications of this history, emphasizing that the shanties were more than mere shelters; they were symbols of resilience against adversity. His legacy serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing the needs and rights of displaced communities and acknowledging their contributions to the urban landscape, by not only remembering their past struggles but also reevaluating how society supports those who have been uprooted by war and conflict.