Sustainable Models of Heritage Conservation and Revitalization
Foreword Albania is a country rich in natural and cultural heritage. The 400 km long coastline, the different mountain ranges, natural rivers and cultivated lands are matched with an abundance of cultural heritage, some dating back to Illyrian times. More recent history is still very present in cities and villages also. The southern coastal region of Albania is no exception. Mountains, the Mediterranean Sea, a rich cultural landscape, ancient sites and old traditional villages are characteristics of this area and a huge asset for development. As in other parts of the world, new opportunities over the last 20 years have changed the social structures in those villages. Many people have left to move to cities or even abroad, some have moved nearby into more modern [recently constructed] housing, some have stayed in the old buildings but with little means to maintain them. In many cases, complicated heritage structures make investments in the preservation and use of the built-up heritage additionally difficult. Over the last years, the Albanian government has increasingly invested in the tangible heritage of settlements in cities such as Korça, Gjirokastra, Berat, etc but increasingly also in village settings. For example, Vuno and Qeparo [together with Dhërmi and old Himara settlement] were declared as “historic centers”, thus national heritage sites, back in 2016; plans to support the renovation of infrastructure and some old ensembles are underway. However, in order to sustain efforts for preserving the rich architectural and cultural heritage assets of the old villages in southern coastal region, there is a need for such Economic Models of Conservation and Revitalization, which would provide not only for return of investments in the preservation and modernization work, but an income for those who are engaged in this process as well. This precious 6
heritage will endure and contribute to the overall development of the region, only if there is some economic perspective. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit - GIZ [the German Organization for International Cooperation, on behalf of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development is supporting a project of the Albanian Government for the sustainable development of the southern coastal region. In this context, the Integrated Sustainable Development of the Southern Coastal Region programme and the partners such as National Territorial Planning Agency [NTPA], the Institute of Culture Monuments [ICM], the Municipality of Himara etc, are pleased to have cooperated with the Urban Management [UM] Masters Programme of the Technical University Berlin [TU Berlin], in co-organizing the summer school on urban conservation aiming at developing “Sustainable Models of Conservation and Revitalization for the Historic Villages of Vuno & Qeparo, in Himara, Albania”. Considering that there are many good experiences on economic models for urban conservation and revitalizing traditional settlements around the world, the findings of this research conducted by 22 international students in the UM Program at the TU Berlin of diverse backgrounds such as architecture, planning, engineering, administrative sciences, ect, guided by professors at TU Berlin and working alongside participating students from Albanian universities, ISDSCR programme team and partners, can enrich the discussion on finding own ways and contextual means for urban conservation in Albania. This research / report summarizes the results of the term-long research: preparations, fieldwork conducted in Albania from May 2 to 12 consisting of expert and in-site resident interviews, site and SWOT