Place-making and place-taking: memories from Tirana

ABSTRACT

Multidisciplinary studies try to explain the complexity and the effects of political processes, such as how decision-making, and socio-political transition are connected with urbanism, and activism. Tirana has faced numerous changes over the years, from urbanism, to political landscapes, to economics, to social aspects, and to public spaces within the city (for example, squares and buildings), all of which are key points towards achieving sustainable transformation. This paper tries to explain and understand the political processes and informal placemaking (public space, buildings, activism) following three main perspectives: a) ontologies on political processes approach, the environment, and urban planning; b) activism and protest events; and c) the legal framework on urban planning and activism. Based on previous studies, experiences from the past and these three perspectives, this paper emphasizes the connection between political processes and informal placemaking by answering the questions: “What is the role of urban transformation in activism in Tirana? What are the implications of political processes on activism and urban transformation? The key studies in this paper focus on public spaces around culture heritage buildings in Tirana, such as the National Theatre building and the “Qemal Stafa” National Stadium.

KEYWORDS:

• Activism
• urbanization
• public space
• transformation
• Tirana

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Note: The definition by Donatella della Porta and Mario Diani refers to the description of social movements. Social movements are characterized by collective actions and strategies over a longer period. Within Albanian society, features of social movements can be identified. For analytical purposes and in accordance with the subject of this Special Issue, different forms of collective actions will be referred to under the concept of activism.

2. Tirana 030 is a new vision for the city. Urban planning is proposed by UNLAB, Stefano Boeri Archietti, IND, Tirana Municipality. Financially supported by the Ministry of Urban Development and AKPT. All descriptive data and information are based on the document; “Tirana Municipality” General Local Plan’ approved by National Territorial Council No.1 date 23.10.2019.

3. Note- 2015 the NTB was given the status of the second cultural monument in Albania and was also included as cultural monument on the TR030’s map.

4. Note: This part includes conclusions and statements from the interviews, all of them preferred to stay anonymous. Expert 1- Architect; Expert 2- Lecturer- Build Environment Physiology; Expert 3-Lawyer.