Abstract [English

Abstract [English]

Tourism today, is considered a primary economic pillar for most countries, including Albania. The investments are immense, construction industry is prevailing while the design of hotelsis based on individual requirements, sustainability and relation with the context, are considered a second-hand layer and the national policies so often are not prepared with the proper tools to approach the design or construction process. After the 1990’s the touristic accommodation industry, objecting the rigid means of communism, have followed other aspects of the society, by developing freely and unguided in democratic market. The transition provided on the way other issues regarding informality, sprawl and space occupations, quality of services in an unprepared context. Whilst, the inherited touristic settlements have been subject of misuse, privatization and in other cases part of a total function change. Despite these developments, Albania is experiencing high demand in terms of annually visitors especially in the seaside and in the mountainous areas, which has emerged the need of thinking how to use its actual assets and define explicit principles in developing the accommodation structures which contributes in the overall development of tourism aiming sustainability and minor invasion approaches. This research aims to understand the variation and typologies of touristic accommodation structures in Albania, by achieving inputs also in the relation with historic influences and context. Investigating the tourism sector in Albania, its trends and the national objectives towards this sector is considered animportant phase of this study. The contribution of the thesis would be the analytical and descriptive analysis of the Hotels of Communism Period, with the focus on the typology of the city hotel. The expected result is a comprehensive strategic guideline, which is extended in the policies level and in the architectural design guidelines. The outcome is considered the identification of patterns and variables of design to be used as guiding principles towards restoration or new design processes. Having a clear inventory and documentation of socialist hotels, the process of preservation of the architectural heritage with this methodology is facilitated and an alternative to fulfil the need for touristic accommodation is considered.

Keywords: Accommodation Structures Typology | Hotel Evolution | Communist Heritage | Touristic Mode | City Hotels