Restored Albania’s Iconic Mosaic Regains

May 16th marked the official unveiling of the restored facade Mosaic at the National Historical Museum in Albania’s Skanderbeg Square. The ceremony was part of the Europe Week celebration and was attended by representatives of the EU Delegation, Ministry of Culture, UN and UNOPS, media, heritage experts, and the creators of the Mosaic. The Mosaic was restored under the EU-funded EU4Culture programme, implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in close partnership with the Ministry of Culture of Albania.

The mosaic of the façade of the National Historical Museum is considered to be one of the finest examples of late Albanian Socialist Realism. Installed in 1981, it showcases, across its 565 m2 surface area, some of the important milestones of the country’s history, spanning from antiquity to the Communist era. Its design was crafted by the renowned artists of the time, including Vilson Kilica, Josif Droboniku, Agim Nebiu, Anastas Kostandini, and Aleksandër Filipi.

In November 2019, Albania was struck by the deadliest earthquake in the past 50

In response to this crisis, the European Union launched the EU4Culture project, implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in close partnership with the Ministry of Culture of Albania years. Its effects were devastating, causing extensive damage across 11 municipalities, including numerous cultural heritage sites, with the Mosaic being one of them. In response to this crisis, the European Union launched the EU4Culture project, implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in close partnership with the Ministry of Culture of Albania. This project focuses on renovation and revitalization of cultural heritage sites that were damaged by the earthquake, and is one of the largest cultural heritage programs funded by the EU worldwide, with a total budget of €40 million.

“The preservation and restoration of the mosaic has been debatable for many years. There were those who wished to remove it from this façade, however it is easy to demolish the past for the sake of the present, but preserving the memory, of the past with all the good and bad, is vital for any people; a necessary catharsis for the journey to the future.

This restoration is made possible by the EU4Culture programme; a program financed by the European Union and implemented by UNOPS, not only as an aid, but also as a confirmation of the path towards the European family.” - noted Elva Margariti, Minister of Culture of Albania.

“Today is a moment we have been waiting for some time now - the unveiling of the restored mosaic. Thanks to the amazing work of the restaurators and the EU4Culture team, Tirana has back one of its iconic landmarks. We are proud to help Albania preserve its cultural heritage. Today, we are also launching our Europe Week under the motto: Your Skills, Your Future. A talented team of Albanian experts and young students has carefully restored the mosaic. This is exactly what we are doing together: to develop skills for Albania, with the Albanians, to become a full-fledged member of the EU,” EU Ambassador Christiane Hohmann.

“At UNOPS we are extremely proud to be trusted partners of the European Union and Government of Albania in implementing such an important project aimed at bringing back to life the Albanian cultural heritage and creating economic opportunities for local communities.” Freya von

Groote, UNOPS Austria Multi Country Office

Director.

In May 2021, EU4Culture assembled a multidisciplinary team of experts, comprising engineers, technologists, conservation and restoration specialists, and the original artists working on the Mosaic in the 1980s, to commence the restoration process. The team embarked on a complex restoration endeavor, facing a variety of challenges. To maintain the integrity of the façade, a free-standing scaffolding was built, reaching 22m in height and not connected to the mosaic in any way. This posed an extraordinary engineering project.

The conservators had to document the 565 m2 mosaic surface area stone-by-stone by hand, using a plastic net and tracing paper. This involved identifying and recording 123 distinct color tones and hundreds of thousands of individual stones (tesserae) at a 1:1 scale. EU4Culture employed a winwin solution by engaging students from the University of Tirana.

Upon further inspection, it was discovered that water leaking through the roof had caused the iron reinforcement bars beneath the surface to rust and expand, forming cavities and fractures in the mosaic. Moreover, some of the original tesserae got discolored and cracked due to the exposure to moisture and changes in temperature. To remedy the situation, the roof had to be repaired. As a result, more than 437 tons of debris had to be removed and the roof was re-laid with new hydro insulation and leveled to direct rainwater away from the mosaic.

The Mosaic authors assisted EU4Culture team in ordering and purchasing tesserae from the factory based in Venice, Italy, that originally crafted them 40 years ago. Unfortunately, some of the minerals used for producing the original tesserae were no longer available, and chemists and technologists had to identify and create materials that matched the original color tones. The restorers divided the Mosaic into segments and worked on each damaged segment replacing rusted iron bars and tesserae with new ones. The total budget of the works amounted to almost one million EURO (based on the current exchange rate).

The restoration works of the National Historical Museum building and reconceptualization of museum displays are set to continue in the second half of 2023. A new design is being developed through EU4Culture to bring the Museum up to modern international standards. The new modern design will offer visitors an immersive experience to explore the country’s rich heritage and culture.

For more information please contact: UNOPS Albania Communications Officer Yevgeniy Zelenko at yevgeniyz@unops.org

Di Fisco was graduated from the University of Palermo in Architecture and he has been enrolled in the Register of Architects of Palermo since 1980. Since the beginning of his career, he dedicated himself to the existing prestigious artistic heritage of Sicily, in particular to the recovery of architectural and monumental properties, to urban redevelopment and touristic infrastructures.

Full interview follows:

Can you provide our readers with a background of your company – “AGATE”to our readers?

The architecture studio “AGATE” (“Architectural Gate”) was founded in

2020 after the meeting I, as representative of the architecture studio “Mediterranea Engineering,” had with Mr. Blenard Durmishi representative of the engineering company ILLYRIAN CONSULTING ENGINEERS (ICE).

During this meeting, we, as representatives of our respective successful companies, proposed to merge the disciplines we practiced in a single company. Our idea found the support of the shareholders, partners, and investors, who helped this company grow.

The aim of “AGATE” is to open a “Gate for Architecture” with its base in Tirana, as the very name of the studio shows.

I was graduated from the University of Palermo in Architecture and I have been enrolled in the Register of Architects of Palermo since 1980.

Since the beginning of my career, I dedicated myself to the existing prestigious recovery of architectural and monumental properties, to urban redevelopment and to touristic infrastructures; he also has been a member of the Regional Commission for the Protection of Natural and Panoramic Zones at the Department of Cultural Heritage of Sicily Region.

Among the many professional tasks, I have performed in design and supervision, I can highlight:

- Design and supervision of the intervention of “Urban redevelopment of the Lenza-Orologio district aimed at the housing program”. [Palazzolo Acreide, UNESCO site];

- Safety planning and coordination for “the restoration works of buildings located in the Saracen district to be transformed into tourist-hotel residences” [Sambuca di Sicilia (AG)];

- Safety planning and coordination of “Reconstruction of buildings in the urban center for social housing” [San Piero Patti (ME)];

- Planning and safety coordination of the “urban redevelopment in the historic center” [San Mauro Castelverde (PA)];

- Design and supervision of the intervention works for the “restoration and consolidation of the church of S. Maria dell’Ammiraglio (Martorana)” [Palermo, UNESCO site];

- Project for the arrangement of the connecting areas between the Archaeological Museum and the Archaeological Park of Monte Jato - Commune of San Cipirello.

- Supervision of the corrective works of the Sesi Necropolis of Mursia Cimilla and of the recent findings at the archaeological site of Scauri in the Commune of Pantelleria;

- Final design, executive supervision of the works and the safety in the planning and construction of works for “improvement and use of archaeological, terrestrial and maritime itineraries of the minor sites of the island of Pantelleria” as part of a preliminary, definitive and executive model of works for “completion of the reclamation works of Sesi and Necropolis in the Cimilla site of the Archaeological Park of Pantelleria Island and so on and so forth.

How did “AGATE” manage to move forward in the last 2-3 years?

Though still in its early years, “AGATE” has developed several important projects thanks to the professional experience of its two cofounders but even of the support design team.

3. Although a new company, can you share with us some of its main projects in Albania and beyond?

Among the many works designed by AGATE, I can single out:

- Archaeological Park of Durrës; “Restoration and Urban Requalification Design of the Prospective TID Durres Area Situated within Durres Archeological Park.” The TID area located in the Archaeological Park of Durrës is about 8 hectares. The main objective is the requalification by intervening in the buildings, squares, roads / paths within the archeological site and the restoration of the castle.

- Residential Complex River Side II

Design of a residential complex with an area of 62 746 m² which consists of 11 floors and 2 underground parking floors.

- Splendor Residence

Design of a residential complex of 93 149 m² which consists of 14 buildings of 11-storey & 2 underground parking floors.

- Theater Skampa

Restoration intervention in the “Skampa” Theater with a surface of 2 255 m². The artistic building consists of 3 floors.

- Abdyl Paralloi School, Elbasan

The school “Abdyl Paralloi” has an area of m² 4 183 and is composed of 3 floors (Elbasan).

The project for “Urban Development of the neighborhood “Vulnetari” in the city of Elbasan, Albania.

- Multifunctional Center for Bektashi

What can you tell us about AGATE’s international experience? Any project that can be highlighted?

In this short journey of AGATE, I can mention:

- Requalification of “San Giussepe” neighborhood, Vita Municipality, Italy;

- Participation in the international competition for the design of a coastal villa in Dubai;

- Primary School Project, Marineo Municipality, Palermo, Italy;

Mr. Di Fisco, how valuable do you consider your involvement in the renewal of the architectural property and monumental, urban development and tourist infrastructure?

Albania is taking important steps in its journey towards the European Union. In this journey, the economic development of the country is a primary and essential support of the process which must rely on the resources that the country allows, coupled with the global policies of the long-term development and environmental protection.

In the past, Albania relied on the heavy industry, but Albania is a country with a relatively small geographical extent and it cannot cope with the pollution that this industry brings. Albania is a country with an excellent nature, traditions and cultural heritage, so the development and use of touristic infrastructure, in my view, is the best way for the economic development of the country. Since I come from a country like Italy, where tourism - especially that related to cultural heritage - is a globally recognized industry, I think my experience in this field makes my involvement quite valuable.

How can you describe your professional career between Albania and Italy? What is your next step?

I deem my professional career in Albania a parallel that follows alongside my career in Italy. I already feel in Albania like in my own country; there is a lot in common between our countries which I feel them not only in the human aspect, but also in the elements related to my profession.

The next step for “AGATE” will be its further expansion in the Balkan area.