2.2 Italian concept, building design and planning strategies for the Albanian cities

2.2 Italian concept, building design and planning strategies for the Albanian cities

Based on the research carried out in the Albanian technical archives, also on the literature of the time and the current one, it can be said that the Italian designers contributed to the planning and construction of Albanian cities according to two main phases, linked to the Italian conquests of the country. The first phase, which runs from 1915 to 1939, brings the Italian architects and engineers employed in the technical offices of the various cities. Their contribution in Albania is extensive and ranges from design and construction implemention. of including aslo the infrastructural system, the drafting of the first Regulatory Plans of Tirana and the arrangement of city centers through the construction of representative buildings and architecture of great public interest.

The second period begins with the creation of the "Central design office for Construction and Urban Planning" for Albania, especially Tirana, from 1940 until 1943, at the time of capitulation of Italy. The interventions that have taken place in recent years are all to be traced back to the activity of this design-office which consisted in the control of public and private construction activities in Albania, in the drafting of new building design "especially institutional buildings of special importance but also villas or residences", city plans and urban planning regulations. As well as in the strengthening and control of all cities infrastructural systems, related an efficient development of the cities and territories adjacent to it. In addition, the work of this design-office was of a great double value, on the one hand a centralized political instrument for albanian territorial development while on the other hand it was a guarantor of design quality and architecture.

The design activity concerned the following works: "valuable projects in Tirana, turning the port of Durres into one of the largest in the region, port of Vlore and Porto Edda in Saranda at south, Shengjin port, new projects and urban plan for Berat and Elbasan, the organization of the central area of the Shkoder and Korça city. And finally the urban intervention of some small towns with strategic importance such as Milot and Permet. The italian designers of the central office in the preliminary phase of drafting the projects and plans followed a common practice for all cities, considering the variables due to the different contexts at second period. The project-startegy consisted of historical knowledge, the type of approach with the existing city plan and its connection with the new expansion. The historical study was focused on the reevaluation of monumental cultural heritage and traditional characters, in particular for the oriental and ottoman ones that gave the cities an aesthetic aspect. The enhancement of the architectural and cultural heritage was the basis of the italian strategy.

The connection strategy between the new city and the existing one was subordinated not only to the road system or infrastructure, but also to the green bands spaces and in particular to a commercial or monumental directorate axis. In all coastal and portual cities, the policies already in place in Italy since the 1920s were applied for the enhancement of seaside tourism. Through promotions and financial incentives was promoted all types of accommodation services for an attractive increase. It has been ascertained that the italian designers considered cities to be living organisms, often resorting to the paradigm of the human body they were able to better manage and plan their development. This design philosophy began to be further applied in building complexes and villa projects which today are considered the basis of cultural heritage sites.