The Neighborhood: Revalidating Tirana’s Vernacular

Abstract

This project explores a revalidation strategy for a neglected and contested neighborhood in Tirana, Albania, whose physical state narrates the historical, political, and social conditions of the place: walls dividing once large gardens, symbols of individual desires that came after the fall of the communist regime, informal extensions to traditional houses, all paired with significant damage from top-down initiatives for grand architectural projects.

Acknowledging limited labor, financial constraints, and time pressures, the project advocates for a capacity-driven approach. The strategy comprises a series of scalable architectural and urban interventions. These range from small modifications, such as brick-supported openings in walls to reconnect divided spaces, to more ambitious projects like a Neighborhood Center that serves as a communal building. Collectively, these interventions act as catalysts, creating a system whose impact grows through interconnectedness and active use. The project demonstrates how intentional design can enable meaningful urban transformation while respecting the complexities of difficult contexts.