Conservation of Soviet Architecture heritage in Albania. The survey of Kashar Radio Station

Abstract

Given the large number of buildings that belong to the communist architecture under the Soviet influence in Tirana and other cities in Albania, this research intends to understand the state of preservation of these buildings in view of today uses, starting from the most well-preserved buildings such as “Kinostudio”, and focusing on highly degraded buildings which risk the demolition. Hence, we decided to focus on the case study of Kashar Radio Station, which present a typical case of Soviet architecture. Moreover, it is a rare example of modest scale architecture of Russian influence which today is in a state of abandonment and very poor conditions of degradation. The increased demolishing attitudes toward the historical architecture in Albania can bring to risk also this category of buildings. According to Cantacuzino (1975), as a reaction to their increased demolishing in favor of new construction, a growing interest has emerged in the conservation of buildings of the 20th century. Therefore, the aim of the research is to document the building project, to redraw and understand the existing state of preservation, to study the different phases of transformation and to produce ideas and scenarios of reuse of the existing structure without compromising the traditional character of the building. In addition, the favorite and visible site of the building close to the highway Durrës - Tiranë, can trigger the new idea of reuse that can revitalize the close-by neighborhoods and create a reference point for commercial and industrial activities in the area around. The theoretical background is based on the idea of conservation of the building as cultural, historical and architectonic heritage by using the strategy of “adaptive reuse” (Brooker, Stone, 2004). Architects today consider challenging to work with historic buildings. The research will finally bring some examples of possible adaptive reuse designed together with students of Architecture.