ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the political and economic forces behind Loutraki’s thermal architectures in the first half of the 20th century. Loutraki became the testing ground for a range of ideas and aspirations: using specific buildings; the scientific discourse permeated politics, city planning, tourism and ultimately, the collective social structures of Loutraki. Thermalism, the therapeutic use of hot water springs, was initially advocated in scientific literature by doctors and chemists and later described by travel writers. Thermalism emerged as scientific discourse only in the second half of the 19th century after Greece was recognised as an independent Nation State. Loutraki is uniquely located between the Corinthian Gulf Sea and the dense pines of the Gerania Mountains to the north. Doctors prescribed Loutraki’s waters as cure to their patients; through chemical analyses, field observations and examinations, they affirmed its healing properties.
