Skanderbeg Square

Skanderbeg Square

*Sheshi Skënderbej*
Skanderbeg Square Sheshi Skënderbej
Public square
	View of the Skanderbeg Square from the Municipality Building
Construction	1968 (naming)
Area	40,000 m2
Dedicated to	Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu
Location	Tirana, Tirana County
	Skanderbeg Square
	Coordinates: 41°19′42″N 19°49′6″E / 41.32833°N 19.81833°E Albania

The Skanderbeg Square (Albanian: Sheshi Skënderbej) is the main plaza in the centre of Tirana, Albania. The square is named after the Albanian national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu. The total area is about 40,000 square metres. The Skanderbeg Monument dominates the square.

The city plan for Tirana was initially designed by

Neo-Renaissance style with articulate angular solutions and giant order fascias. Following the Italian invasion of Albania the master plan was updated in 1939 by Gherardo Bosio

.

Many buildings including the

National Historical Museum

are situated at the square.

History

In 1917, the Austrians built a public square, where the Skanderbeg Square is located nowadays. After

National Bank. Following the fall of communism in 1991, the statue would be removed amid student-led demonstrations. Since June 2017, the square has been renovated and is now part of the biggest pedestrian zone in the Balkans. The renovation has been distinguished with the European Prize for Urban Public Space in 2018.^[1] The project has also been praised at the Chicago Architecture Biennial, and has received second prize for Contemporary Architecture 2019 by the European Union.^[2]

1923
1943
1951
1963
1963
1988
2012
2018

Projects

2010

Former Tirana mayor

State of Kuwait

.

2011

In September 2011, the earlier plan was scrapped and a new one introduced by the new mayor, Lulzim Basha. The use of the square by all motor vehicles was restored through the construction of a narrower road segment around the center of the square including bicycle lanes. The existing green field south of Skanderbeg's statue was extended northward for a few hundred meters, while trees were planted in most places.

2016

The next mayor, Erion Veliaj, announced that instead the 2010 plan would be reintroduced with minor changes such as greater green space areas around the square, underground parking, and the introduction of stone material taken from all corners of Albania, and Albanian inhabited lands. Albania's rich flora would be represented in the gardens around the square, while the former garden behind Skanderbeg's monument would be restored to the pre-2010 state and named Europe Park.

Construction works started in 2016 with the finishing of the small ring road around the square. Once the project is completed, the square will serve as a venue where the surrounding institutions would showcase themselves in an open environment concept. The square will also serve as a local farmers market with vendors from rural Tirana showcasing their organic products. The square was opened to the public in June 2017.^[5]