Architecture of Albania

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Medieval architecture in Krujë.


The architecture of Albania (

Austro-Hungarians and Italians
. In addition, missionaries, invaders, colonisers and traders brought cultural changes that had a large profound effect on building styles as well as techniques.

During

.

After the

Voskopojë and Gjirokastër, in the form of castles, churches and monasteries with grandiose wealth of visible murals and frescos. The country also has many surviving monuments from the Ottoman
period. They left their mark with the many mosques and other buildings they constructed, that contributed to make Berat and Gjirokastër an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the 18th and 19th century, Albanian medieval towns underwent urban transformations by various Austro-Hungarian and Italian architects, giving them the appearance of western European cities; this can be particularly seen in Tirana and Korçë. They introduced architectural styles such as Historicism, Art Nouveau, Neo-Renaissance and Neoclassicism.

Following the establishment of

sacred buildings across Albania were demolished.[4][5]
Many socialist-styled complexes, wide roads and factories were constructed, while squares in major towns were redesigned.

The

Bashtova
are inscribed on the country's tentative list.

The preservation and protection of cultural and historical heritage sites in Albania is entrusted to the

Overview of Albania

Topography of Albania.

Albania is a

Balkan Peninsula, bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, North Macedonia to the east and Greece
to the south and southeast. It has a varied and contrasting topography with high mountains, rocky shores, coastal wetlands, sandy beaches, steep canyons and gorges and islands of various shapes and sizes.

In terms of topography, the country encompasses

Pindus Mountains in the southeast and Ceraunian Mountains in the southwest along the Albanian Riviera and Ionian Sea Coast
.

The country experiences mostly mediterranean climate with continental influences.[8] That means that the climate is characterised by mild winters and hot, dry summers. The warmest areas of the country are along the west, where climate is profoundly impacted by the Mediterranean Sea. The coldest parts of the country are at the north and east, where snowy forested climate is prevalent.

During the

Principality of Arbër
in 1190 AD.

Periods

Antiquity

The beginnings of architecture in Albania dates back to the middle

Neolithic Age with the discovery of prehistoric dwellings in Dunavec and Maliq.[9] They were built on a wooden platform that rested on stakes stuck vertically into the soil.[9] Prehistoric dwellings in Albania consist of three types such as houses enclosed either completely on the ground or half underground, both found in Cakran near Fier
and houses constructed above ground.

The Amphitheatre of Durrës is on the tentative list for becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

During the

Butrint has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.[11]

Following the

Dyrrachium and Hadrianopolis
were notably modernised following Roman models, with the building of a forum, roads, theatres, promenades, temples, aqueducts and other social buildings. The period also marks the construction of stadiums and thermal baths that were of social importance as places of gathering.

Previously populated by various

houses for the middle classes, as well as mansions
with central courtyards which were decorated with various mosaics and murals.

It is the only Roman monument that survived up to the present.

The

Marmara Sea in the east.[15] Further, the route gave the Roman colonies of the Balkans
a direct connection to Rome.

Middle Ages

Medieval cities in Albania are classified according to two criteria:

  • Cities associated with fortifications, such as Berat and Gjirokastra
  • Cities that lie in flat or steep terrains such as Tirana, Kavaja, and Elbasan.

During the

architecture styles
developed in the form of dwelling, defence, worship and engineering structures. When the
Eastern Roman Empire. In behalf to that, the architecture was strongly influenced by the Byzantines. Many extensive churches and monasteries were built during that period mainly in the centre and south of the country.[citation needed
]

However, some inherited historic structures were damaged by invading

Ali Pashe Tepelena
reconstructed several fortifications such as the Castle of Shkodra, Berat, and Tepelena respectively. Ali Pashe Tepelena embarked on a major castle building campaign throughout Epirus.

The Ardenica Monastery near Fier.

During the medieval period, mosques in Albania fell into two categories: those covered with a dome, and those with a roof covered hall. The latter were immediately adopted following the Ottoman invasion, by transforming the existing churches of Shkodra, Kruje, Berat, Elbasan and Kanina. For instance, the

Mustafa Pasha Bushati
in Shkodra resembles a typical Istanbul mosque.

On the other hand, Christian religious structures inherited many features from their palaeo-Christian predecessors. Between the 16th and 19th centuries, a series of small structures for Christian with simple layouts were built like the

Voskopoja basilica, Ardenica Monastery, and Church of St. Nicholas in Voskopoja. The latter is one of the most valuable architectonic monuments in Albania. Its interior walls are covered with paintings by the renowned painter David Selenica
, and by brothers Constantine and Athanasios Zografi.

Modern

During the 18th century, the city silhouette in Albania began to include places of worship and the Clock Tower. These, together with other social structures such as thermal baths, fountains, and medrese further enriched the city centre and its neighbourhoods.

In the 17th century, the bazaar emerges as a production and exchange centre, while the city expands beyond the castle, which completely loses its function and inhabitants. During this period, Shkodra and Korca become important commerce and skilled crafts centres.

Neo-Renaissance
style.
Fascist architecture in Tirana

The first half of the 20th century begins with the

King Zog
's kingdom, and ends with the Italian invasion. During this time, Albanian medieval towns underwent urban transformations by Austro-Hungarian architects, giving them the appearance of European cities.

The centre of Tirana was the project of Florestano Di Fausto and Armando Brasini, well known architects of the Benito Mussolini period in Italy. Brasini laid the basis for the modern-day arrangement of the ministerial buildings in the city centre.

The plan underwent revisions by the Albanian architect Eshref Frashëri, the Italian architect Castellani, and the Austrian architects Weiss and Kohler. The rectangular parallel road system of Tirana e Re district took shape, while the northern portion of the main Boulevard was opened. These urban plans formed the basis of future developments in Albania after the

second World War
.

Reliefs at the Cpuncil of Ministers Building.Left The reliefs at the facade of the University Hospital in Tirana. Right

From 1944 to 1991, cities experienced an ordered development with a decline in architectural quality. Massive socialist-styled

factories
were constructed, while town squares were redesigned and a number of historic buildings demolished.

The period after the fall of communism is often described negatively in terms of urban development. Kiosks and apartment buildings started to occupy former public areas without planning, while informal districts formed around cities from internal migrants leaving remote rural areas for the western lowland. Decreasing urban space and increased traffic congestion have become major problems as a result of lack of planning. As part of the 2014 Administrative Division Reform, all town centres in Albania are being physically redesigned and façades painted to reflect a more Mediterranean look.[16][17]

Although much has been achieved, critics argue that there is no clear vision on Tirana's future. Some of the pressing issues facing Tirana are loss of public space due to illegal and chaotic construction, unpaved roads in suburban areas, degradation of Tirana's Artificial Lake, rehabilitation of Skanderbeg Square, an ever-present smog, the construction of a central bus station and lack of public parking space. Future plans include the construction of the Multimodal Station of Tirana and the tram line, rehabilitation of the Tiranë River area, construction of a new boulevard along the former Tirana Railway Station and the finishing of the Big Ring Road.

Cities

Berat

Scenic view over Gorica.

Berat, otherwise known as the city of a thousand windows, is a small city in Southern Albania. The architecture of Berat is diverse and enfolds the inheritance of the Illyrians and Ancient Greeks but also of various peoples and empires that have previously ruled the city among others the Byzantines and Ottomans. Nevertheless, the cityscape is notably embossed by the architectural style of the Ottomans and boasts a wealth of structures of exceptional historical and architectural interest. This led the city to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The old town of Berat is dominated by Ottoman houses.

The city is separated intro three parts such as the residential quarter within the fortress or known as Kalaja, Mangalem and Gorica. The

Antipatrea when the Romans conquered the city and called it Albanorum Oppidum.[18]
Over the centuries it has been subject to numerous conquest by the Byzantines and Ottomans.

Kalaja is well-preserved and consists of numerous houses, most of which are built of stone. Numerous churches with extraordinary decorated

Onufri Museum of Icons is also located within the castle and displays works of Onufri
and other important Albanian painter.

Remains of the Berat Castle.

Houses within the Mangalem quarter were built along a steep hill towards the Gorica quarter. The facades that faces the valley have characteristically

Halveti Teqe
stands behind the King Mosque and enclose an impressive carved ceiling.

Gorica was for a long time only connected through the

Post-Byzantine style
.

Korçë

The Resurrection Cathedral in the center.

The architecture in Korçë is characterised by mansions and residential buildings, cobbled streets and wide boulevards with many cafés and restaurants. There is an architectural mix, due to the turbulent history, of Art Nouveau, Neoclassicism and Ottoman styles. Italian and French influences increased after the beginning of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In modernising its infrastructure through the centuries, the city has preserved some of its history in its streets and facades.

The Old Bazaar during reconstructions.

The city was an important trade and economic centre during the eighteenth century.[19] During the Ottoman rule, the Old Bazaar developed rapidly to become the city's main centre of commerce. Although bazaars were typical Ottoman trading complexes developed in the towns of Albania and elsewhere in the Balkans. The Ottoman architecture is predominant within the bazaar, while recent reconstructions have led to the application of elements specific to modern architecture.

The

Byzantine style. It stands slightly elevated on an estrade and consists mainly of cream-white to ivory-colored stones and red bricks. The interior walls and domes are decorated with icons and frescoes
.

The

Iljaz Bey Mirahor. The minaret and dome of the building was damaged by an earthquake and was recently restored. It consists of white limestone
blocks that lie on layers of red bricks. It is only one of the few monuments of the Ottoman period in the city and the surrounding county.

Sacred architecture

Churches

The Basilica of Butrint.

Eastern Roman Empire kept Roman architectural elements alive and became popular for its slightly flatter domes and the richer usage of murals and icons
rather than statues.

The

Mediterranean world.[23] The most remarkable feature is its impressive mosaic floor, illustrating iconography relating both to Christianity and to Aristocratic life.[24]

.

The

Dormition of the Theotokos Church in Labovë e Kryqit is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture in the country. Its interior is decorated with various mosaics and frescoes
and coverings of great artistic value. It is a typically Byzantine church with a high central dome with nave and aisles arranged in a cruciform plan.

The

Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg
.

Rubik
.

The Ardenica Monastery was built in 1282 following the victory against the Angevins in the Siege of Berat. It the place where, in 1451, was celebrated the marriage of Skanderbeg with Andronika Arianiti. The monastery is an impressive representative of Byzantine architecture with many romanesque features.

The history of Albania has not been kind to Early Christian architectural monuments. Scattered throughout the country, there are still structures and remains of churches and monasteries from that period such as the

.

Prominent

Mosques

The Mirahori Mosque in Korçë.

By the late fifteenth century, the

Ottoman occupation of Albania.[26] The foreign influences that accompanied Albania, were absorbed and reinterpreted with an extensive construction of mosques throughout the country.[27]

The combinations of brick and stone were very frequent in Ottoman architecture, while brick was used mainly for arches, domes and vaults. Further, the most characteristic feature of those mosques is the dominance of a dome, having a semi-circular flat profile, that covered the significant part of the prayer hall within the mosque. The elegance of various Islamic elements is blended in and adapted into buildings and interior designs such as the use of tiling, geometric designs, floral motifs and murals.

The dome of the Et'hem Bey Mosque in Tirana.

In contrast to the long presence of the Ottomans in Albania and Balkans, only few significant mosques from this period have survived, scattered particularly in the center and south of Albania. One of those mosques include the

Imrahor Ilyas Bey in Korçë.[28] It is the only existing Ottoman mosque in the city and surrounding county.[27]

The Et'hem Bey Mosque in Tirana is an important representative of the Ottoman heritage in the country. The construction of the mosque began in the end of the 18th century and has been completed in the 19th century.[29] Its most noted features are the frescoes within the mosque with depict trees, waterfalls and bridges.

Interior of Bachelors' Mosque in Berat.

The Bachelors' Mosque is located at the lower part of Mangalem quarter of Berat, which is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As most of other mosques in the city, the Bachelors' Mosque was declared a Cultural Monument of Albania in 1961.[30]

Built by Pasha Mehmed Bushati in 1773, the Lead Mosque of Shkodër is the only building left in the city that was built by the Ottomans.[27] It takes the name because all of its cupolas were covered with lead. The mosque stands in the foothills of Mount Rozafa in a meadow along the Drin. It fell into disuse after a massive flood in 1865, which swept away that part of the city.

In Berat, the Lead Mosque, whose most characteristic feature is the lead dome, is among the best preserved Ottoman buildings in Albania.[27] It was built during the 16th century, when Berat became an important administrative and religious center within the Ottoman Empire.

The

Bazaar Mosque in Gjirokastër was built in the 18th century on a hill side close to the commercial neighbourhood of the city during that period, the bazaar, close to the Gjirokastër Fortress. Although most of the city and the mosque were constructed with portico
.

Tekkes

Halveti Teqe in Berat

As the

Islamic mysticism and theological provided a popular alternative to normative Islam.[31]
The architecture of tekkes is usually simple and articulated by a dome, arch, courtyard, portal, tomb and a central hall.

The

Halveti Teqe was built by Albanian Ahmet Kurt Pasha in the 18th century in Berat. It is a quadratic building, that consists of a rectangular prayer room, a smaller room for special religious services, an impressive portal that precedes the entrance and a türbe. The walls within the structure are decorated with various frescoes and murals
.

Built in 1770, the

Dollma Teqe stands within the fortification of Krujë and includes a türbe and hamam. The flat dome rests on a low octagonal tholobate
. Its interior walls are richly decorated and painted with murals and writings.

Secular architecture

Castles

Castle of Berat
.

The scenic

. The majority have been renovated throughout history and different epoches with changing rule and adaptations to war technology development.

Castle of Krujë
.

The

Communism in Albania, and reconstructed. It possesses several Byzantine churches dotted with impressive frescoes, murals and icons, whereas the Ottoman heritage
is demonstrated in forms of mosques and traditional houses.

The

Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu. It was constructed during the 5th and 6th centuries and the surrounding walls are reinforced by nine towers, which served as an observation and signaling post.[33]
There can still be found the remains of houses and mansions.

The Fortress of Bashtovë is on the tentative list for becoming an UNESCO World Heritage Site.[34]

The

Venetians in the Middle Ages. It stands in a very strategic point near the mouth of Shkumbin River close to the Adriatic Sea. The castle is a typical Venetian structure that combined the Gothic
lancet arch with Byzantine and Ottoman influences.

Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu during its revolt against the Ottoman Empire
.

Scenic view of Rozafa Castle in Shkodër.

Rozafa Castle is an ancient castle in Shkodër. The castle is associated with a famous legend about a woman who was buried in the foundation of the castle. It stretches on a rocky hill and is trapped on three sides by the rivers of Buna, Kir and Drin. Its current name, Rozafa, appeared for the first time in the early Middle Ages. Later when the Ottomans conquered the Balkans the castle than was turned into a mosque.

The

Drino river
valley. There are five towers and houses, a clock tower, a church, a cistern and many other structures within the fortification.

The Lëkurësi Castle in Sarandë was built in the Middle Ages.

Dey of Algiers
in the seas. It is a small rectangular structure with battered walls, while along the corners, there are two battered round towers with cannons on its seaward side and two irregularly sized battered square towers equipped with firing loops or windows.

The

Kastriotis
decided to increase the fortifications for the use against the Ottomans. Skanderbeg chose the Cape of Rodon as the location of the castle and construction began in 1450.

Although other prominent and impressive castles with different architectural styles in Albania include the Durrës Castle, Kaninë Castle, Lezhë Castle, Lëkurësi Castle, Prezë Castle and Fortress of Justinian.

Vernacular architecture

Kullas

Albanian Alps in the north of Albania
.

. In most cases, they take the form of an extended family house. However, a house for two brothers can also be found.

According to their spatial and planning composition, Albanian houses are classified and separated into four major groups:[35]

The southern urban or civic Kullas are found in the cities and surroundings of

Himara and Këlcyrë.[36][37] Tower-houses in Gjirokastër were built in the 13th century predating Ottoman conquest.[38] The northern Kullas are a heavily fortified residential building built in the north of Albania and Dukagjin region of Kosovo
. They contain small windows and shooting holes because their main purpose was to offer security from attack. Further they have been initially built from wood and stone and eventually only from stone.

The first Kullas were built in the 17th century, a time when there was continuous fighting in the Dukagjini region, although most of the ones that still remain are from the 18th or 19th century. They have been almost always built within a complex of buildings with various functions but Kullas in villages exists mostly as standalone structures. They are also positioned within the complex of buildings so that the inhabitants can look out over the surrounding area. Kullas in towns are usually built as standalone structures, while in villages they are more commonly found as a part of a larger ensemble of Kullas and stone houses, usually grouped together for the family clan they belonged to.

Certain Kullas were used as places of isolation and safe havens or "locked towers" (Kulla Ngujimi) intended for the use of persons targeted by

blood feuds; an example can be found in Theth.[39]

Most of the Kullas are three-story buildings. A characteristic unit of its architectural structure in "Oda e Burrave" (Chamber of Men or Gathering Room of Men), which was usually placed in the second floor of the Kulla, called Divanhane, while the ground floor served as a barn for cattle and the first floor was where the family quarters were located. The material from which the Divanhane is constructed, either wood or stone, is sometimes used to classify Kullas.[40][41]

See also

Further reading

  • Ledita Mezini a & Dorina Pojani (2014). "Defence, identity, and urban form: the extreme case of Gjirokastra" (PDF). Planning Perspectives. 30 (3): 397.
    S2CID 10353235
    .
  • Eleni Gavra, Stella Kasidou & Yannis Konstantinou. "Management of the Architectural Heritageof the Historic Centre of Korça" (PDF). Institutional Framework and Policies, Institute for Balkan Studies. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-06-18. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
  • Vokshi, Armand, & Nepravishta, Florian. "FLORESTANO DI FAUSTO - THE GENESIS OF NEW ARCHITECTURAL FORMS IN ALBANIA". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Ndreçka, Olisa, & Nepravishta, Florian (September 2014). "The Impact of Socialist Realism in the Albanian Architecture in 1945-1990". Architecture and Urban Planning.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

References

  1. ^ a b Keida Lulo, Kevin Tummers. "History of Albanian Architecture Model, Various Authors, 1970 - 2.12.ARCHITECTURE and Urban Development" (PDF). seda.org.al. p. 1.[dead link]
  2. ^ "POLITISCHE ORGANISATIONSFORMEN IM VORRÖMISCHEN SÜDILLYRIEN" (PDF). fondazionecanussio.org (in German). p. 58. Die Urbanisierung Illyriens begann im späten 5. Jh. mit den Stadtanlagen von Amantia, Klos und Kalivo und nahm im 4. Jh. mit Byllis, Lissos, Zgerdesh und Scodra großen Aufschwung
  3. ^ "Die Ekklesiale Geographie Albaniens bis zum Ende des 6. Jahrhunderts –Beiträge der Christlichen Archäologie auf dem Territorium der Heutigen Republik Albanien". kulturserver-hamburg.de (in German). Die Bischofsstädte und ihre Einflussbereiche
  4. ^ Karin Myhrberg - University of Gothenburg. "Heritage from the Communist Period in Albania - An Unwanted Heritage Today?" (PDF). gupea.ub.gu.se. Gothenburg. p. 12.
  5. .
  6. ^ UNESCO. "Albania - Properties inscribed on the World Heritage List". whc.unesco.org. p. 1.
  7. Institute of Monuments of Albania. "Rreth Nesh". imk.gov.al (in Albanian). p. 9. Archived from the original
    on 2018-09-13. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  8. ^ Ministry of Environment of Albania. "Albania's Second National Communication to the Conference of Parties under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change" (PDF). unfccc.int. Tirana. p. 28.
  9. ^
    United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization. "Archaeology and art of Albania, Ecuador, China, Bulgaria"
    (PDF). unesdoc.unesco.org. pp. 4–6.
  10. , p263
  11. ^ UNESCO. "Butrint". whc.unesco.org.
  12. .
  13. ISBN 9781842174623.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  14. .
  15. .
  16. ^ "Ndarja e re, mbeten 28 bashki, shkrihen komunat | Shekulli Online". Shekulli.com.al. 2014-01-10. Archived from the original on 2014-01-13. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
  17. ^ "Reforma Territoriale - KRYESORE". Reformaterritoriale.al. Archived from the original on 2017-05-14. Retrieved 2014-08-15.
  18. ^ a b UNESCO. "Brief description of Berat" (PDF). unesco.org. Berat.
  19. ISBN 9290633301.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link
    )
  20. ^ BERNHARD TONNES. "Religious Persecution in Albania" (PDF). biblicalstudies.org.uk.
  21. ^ "ALBANIA" (PDF). religion-freedom-report.org.uk. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-08-08. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  22. ^ "The Butrint Baptistery Mosaics". mediterraneanworld.typepad.com.
  23. . butrint baptistery.
  24. .
  25. ^ Walker, Emily (7 March 2012). "OCMC News - Opening of the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Albania". ocmc.org.
  26. ^ Eric H. Boehm (1994). Historical Abstracts: Modern history abstracts, 1450-1914. American Bibliographical Center-Clio Press, 1994. p. 307.
  27. ^ a b c d Edmond Manahasa, İlknur Aktug Kolay. "Observations on the existing Ottoman mosques in Albania" (PDF). az.itu.edu.tr. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-09-27. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  28. ISBN 9290633301.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link
    )
  29. .
  30. ^ "Religious buildings with the "Culture Monument" status". Republic of Albania National Committee for Cult. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  31. ^ a b UNESCO. "Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokastra". whc.unesco.org.
  32. .
  33. ^ UNESCO. "The Castle of Bashtova". whc.unesco.org.
  34. ^ "Arkitektura e shtepive tradicionale Shqiptare | ACP".
  35. ^ Stubbs-Makaš 2011, p. 392
  36. ^ Epirus, 4000 years of Greek history and civilization. p. 334
  37. ^ Internationale Tourismusattraktionen in Mittel- und Südosteuropa. Österreichisches Ost- und Südosteuropa-Institut, 1999, p. 2.
  38. . Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  39. ^ Limani, Jeta. "Kulla of Mazrekaj family in Dranoc" (PDF). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  40. .