Qemal Butka
Qemal Butka | |
|---|---|
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| Mayor of Tirana | |
| In office 21 October 1935 – 7 November 1936 | |
| Preceded by | Abedin Nepravishta |
| Succeeded by | Abedin Nepravishta |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1907 Butkë, Ottoman Empire |
| Died | 28 November 1997 (aged 89–90) Tirana, Albania |
| Nationality | Albanian |
| Alma mater | TU Wien |
| Profession | Architect |
Qemal Butka (1907 – November 28, 1997) was an
Life
Qemal Butka was born in 1907 in the village of
While a high school student, Butka endeavored in painting; he worked on two well known paintings of Ismail Qemali and of Bajram Curri in 1927, and also on a postcard with the theme of respecting religions.[2]
In 1931, upon graduation, Butka returned to Albania and worked mostly on architectural projects.
Among his other famous works in Albania are the building of the National Library of Albania, a Monument to the National Freedom, the building of the municipality of Korçë, and a 25th anniversary commemorative plaque of the Albanian Declaration of Independence.[1]
Qemal Butka distinguished himself in the construction of villas in Tirana, Durrës and other Albanian cities, which still stand today as testimony of a very solid architecture.[1] Butka is known to have engraved many series of postage stamps, distinguishing himself in the philately field; his stamps' series of the 25th anniversary of the Albanian Independence will be remembered as a notable series.[1]
From 21 October 1935 to 7 November 1936 Qemal Butka was nominated as mayor by
In 1939, after Fascist Italy invaded Albania, Butka emigrated to
In 1958 Butka and wife emigrated to the United States, where they resided until the 1990s.[1] In the US Butka worked as an architect in prestigious studios, whereas his wife, Cecile, participated in the construction project of the Twin Towers of New York City.[2] Several times Qemal Butka tried to visit Albania as a US citizen, but his entry was refused by Communist authorities. He managed to do so only in 1987 through Austria after the death of Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha.[2] After 1990 he definitively returned to Albania, where he died on November 28, 1997.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Shtylla, Valter (31 May 2010). "Qemal Butka Arkitekti, artisti, filatelisti". Balkanweb (in Albanian). Balkanweb. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g Riza, Emin (15 March 2010). "Vepra e Qemal Butkës, vlerësuar me trillime dhe keqinterpretime". Balkanweb (in Albanian). Balkanweb. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
- ^ Koha Jone. "The "Lung" of Tirana toward its cementification". Koha Jonë (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 23 July 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
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