Urban Regeneration of Underused Industrial Sites in Albania

Abstract

Industrial heritage can be considered as a significant asset of modern civilization, mostly epitomizing living patrimony of industrialization process. However, it nowadays represents under-valuated heritage, as a consequence of massive closure of industrial sites due to political and economical changes through years. This thesis focuses on the study and recognition of underused Albanian industrial sites, mostly constructed during the communist period, and proposes possible regeneration model based on international examples. The majority of Albanian degraded sites, due to change of regime and mass closure or harassment of industrial sites, are being seen as high priority objective from central government and municipalities. At the verge of approval of General National Plan of the Republic of Albania and most of Local General Plans for country’s municipalities, it has become a primary requirement the redevelopment of these “silent” assets, which now have the opportunity to become promotors of cities development. The study follows with descriptive analysis of international positive cases, reflecting how these internventions can be appropriately applied for Albanian cases. Consistent reuse methodologies were proposed based on three pillars: economic and urban, environmental and heritage. Lastly, this thesis presents general conclusion for practical application of the above mentioned methodologies, as a positive approach